RU2606343C2 - Image forming device, cartridge and imaging devices system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: image forming devices.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to image forming device, cartridge and image forming devices system for forming image on recording material. Declared group of inventions includes image forming device for image forming on recording material, cartridge with possibility of disconnection installed in the image forming device, system of imaging devices for image forming on recording material and system of imaging devices for image forming on recording material. At that, image forming device for image forming on recording material contains cartridge, including first portion for engagement and second part to engage, which is detachably mounted in said image forming device, wherein comprises device main assembly, moving element, provided in said device main assembly, made with possibility to displace between first and second positions, first engaging part arranged on said moving element and made with possibility to engage with said first part to engage, and second engaging part arranged on said moving element and made with possibility to engage with second part to engage, wherein using first engaging part, engaging with said first part to be engaged in the process of said cartridge installing in said device main assembly, said movable element moves from first position into second position to allow said second engaging part to pass through said second part to be engaged in installation direction, wherein said cartridge is installed in said device main assembly.

EFFECT: technical result consists in providing an image forming device and imaging devices system, using which correctness of cartridge, which is inserted into image forming device main assembly can be determined near inserting opening, and configurations to prevent erroneous insert can be provided in small space.

35 cl, 59 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a cartridge, and a system of image forming apparatuses for forming an image on a recording material.

BACKGROUND

An image forming apparatus is a device configured to form an image on a recording material using various known principles or types of image formation, such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process, or a magnetic recording process. Examples of an image forming apparatus include a copy machine, a printer (laser printer, LED printer), a fax machine, a word processor, an image display device (an electronic graphics board or an electronic white board) and an integrated apparatus (multifunction printer), etc. Material for recording, is the material on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and may be a sheet of paper, a sheet of monochrome transparent film (OHT), an element for secondary transfer, for example.

The cartridge is a unified design that includes an image transfer element for image transfer, and, partially or fully, an image forming unit, including technological image forming means suitable for operation on an image transfer element. It is removably mounted in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus and can contribute to the image forming process for forming an image on the recording material. The main assembly of the image forming apparatus includes structural parts of the image forming apparatus with the exception of the cartridge, in the image forming apparatus with the cartridge.

The image transfer element may be an electrophotographic photosensitive element in an electrophotographic process, a dielectric element for electrostatic recording in an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic element for magnetic recording in a magnetic recording process, or an element on which an image can be formed using various image forming principles. Technological image forming means includes equipment for carrying out an image forming process for forming an image on an image transfer member.

Next, a description will be given of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus with a cartridge as an exemplary device. The cartridge may be a process cartridge or a development cartridge.

The process cartridge includes at least one of a charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means as an electrographic technical means, and includes an electrophotographic photosensitive element as an image transfer member, which are integrated into a cartridge removably mounted in a main assembly of an electrophotographic forming device Images. The main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be called the main assembly of the device or the main assembly.

Therefore, the process cartridge may be a cartridge that includes developing means as a process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are combined in a cartridge that is removably mounted in the main assembly of the device. In addition, the process cartridge may be a cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging means, a developing means and a cleaning means as technological means that are integrated into the cartridge.

A process cartridge integrally including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means is called an integral type process cartridge. A process cartridge integrally including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and means other than a developing means is called a process cartridge of a separable type. In the detachable type, the developing means is provided in another node, that is, the developing node, and image formation is performed by a combination of the developing node and the detachable type process cartridge.

The process cartridge can be installed and removed relative to the main assembly of the device by the user. Therefore, the maintenance of the device can actually be easily performed.

The developing cartridge includes a developing shaft (a developer transfer member for supplying the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member). The developing cartridge contains a powdered developer (toner) for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive element, and is removably mounted in the main assembly of the device.

In a design using a developing cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is mounted on the main assembly of the device or on the cartridge support member. Or an electrophotographic photosensitive element is provided in a detachable type process cartridge (in this case, the process cartridge does not contain development means). The developing cartridge can also be installed and removed relative to the main assembly of the device by the user. Therefore, the maintenance of the device can actually be easily performed.

Thus, the cartridge may be an integral type technological cartridge and a detachable type technological cartridge. The cartridge may be a pair of separable type process cartridge and development cartridge. The cartridge may be a developing cartridge suitable for operation on an electrophotographic photosensitive member mounted on a cartridge support member or on the main assembly of the device. The cartridge may be a node capable of contributing to the image formation process for forming an image on the recording material, a node removably mounted in the main assembly of the device.

In the image forming apparatus with the cartridge, it is assumed that the correct cartridges should be installed in the corresponding installation part of the main assembly of the device, but the wrong cartridge may be installed. That is, an erroneous cartridge insertion may occur. A correct cartridge is a cartridge that contains the correct type of product or color of the developers contained within it, for example. Hereinafter, such a cartridge is called the correct cartridge, and another cartridge is called the wrong cartridge.

The wrong cartridge includes a cartridge that is suitable for another type of main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The wrong cartridge includes a cartridge that is suitable for the main assembly but not suitable for the particular installation position of the main assembly.

Japanese Patent No. 3658381 provides a method for preventing erroneous insertion. In this proposal, when the wrong cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the cam part for opening and closing the valve is engaged with the engaging part to prevent erroneous insertion in the opening of the main assembly of the device to open the valve so that the erroneous insert is blocked. With such a design, a part of the valve for protecting the photosensitive drum of the cartridge is provided with an engaging part suitable for engaging with the image forming apparatus to open the valve in an incorrect position, whereby further insertion of the cartridge is prevented.

With this design, the determination of whether the cartridge is correct or not is carried out in a position downstream of the insertion direction, that is, at the rear of the main assembly, and thus, determination is possible after inserting the cartridge to a certain extent. To prevent many types of erroneous insertion with such a structure, space is required for the structure to prevent erroneous insertion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an additional improvement. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a cartridge, and an image forming apparatus system by which the correctness of the cartridge that is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus can be determined near the insertion opening, and configurations to prevent erroneous insertion can be provided in a small space.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in which a cartridge including a first engaging part and a second engaging part is detachably mounted to said image forming apparatus, comprising: a main assembly of the apparatus; a movable element provided in said main assembly of the device, configured to move between a first position and a second position; a first engaging portion provided on said movable member and adapted to engage with said first engaging portion; and a second engaging part provided on said movable member and adapted to engage with a second engaging part, wherein by means of a first engaging part engaging with said first engaging part during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device the element is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging part to pass through said second part to engage lenii installation, wherein said cartridge is mounted to said main assembly of the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on recording material in which a cartridge including a movable member movable between a first position and a second position is detachably mounted to said image forming apparatus comprising The main assembly of the device a first engaging portion configured to engage with said first engaging portion provided on said movable member; and a second engaging portion adapted to engage with a second engaging portion provided on said movable member, wherein by means of said first engaging portion engaging with said first engaging portion during installation of said cartridge in said main assembly of said device the movable member moves from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through said second engaging portion direction in the installation in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a movable member provided with a first engaging part and a second engaging part configured to move between a first position and a second position, said cartridge comprising a first part for engagement, made with the possibility of engagement with the first engaging part; and a second engaging portion configured to engage with the second engaging portion; wherein, by said first engaging portion engaging with said first engaging portion during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through said second the engaging portion in the installation direction in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge that can be detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on recording material, said image forming apparatus including a first engaging part and a second engaging part, said cartridge comprising a movable member, configured to move between a first position and a second position; a first engaging portion provided on said movable member and adapted to engage with said first engaging portion; and a second engaging portion provided on the movable member and adapted to engage with the second engaging portion; wherein by said first engaging portion engaged with said first engaging portion during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through said second part for engagement in the installation direction in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system of image forming devices for forming an image on recording material, said system of image forming devices comprising (i) a first cartridge including a first part for engagement and a second part for engagement; (ii) a first image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein said first cartridge is detachably mounted to said first image forming apparatus, said first image forming apparatus including a first movable member provided in the first main assembly said first image forming apparatus and arranged to move between a first position and a second position, the first an engaging part provided on said first movable member and adapted to engage with said first engaging part, and a second engaging part provided on said first movable member and arranged to engage with said second engaging part, in which by said first engaging a part engaging with said first part for engaging during installation of said first cartridge into said main assembly of the first device wa, said first movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through said second engaging portion in an installation direction in which said first cartridge is mounted in said main assembly of the first device, (iii) a second cartridge, including a third part for engagement and a fourth part for engagement; and (iv) a second image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein said second cartridge is detachably mounted in said second image forming apparatus, said second image forming apparatus including a second movable member provided in a second main assembling said second image forming apparatus and configured to move between a first position and a second position; a third engaging portion provided on said second movable member and adapted to mesh with said third engaging portion, and a fourth engaging portion provided on said second movable member and adapted to mesh with said fourth engaging portion, wherein by said first the engaging part engaged with said first part for engagement during installation of said second cartridge in said main assembly in of the second device, said second movable member is moved from a first position of said second movable member to a second position of said second movable member to allow said fourth engaging portion to pass through said fourth engaging portion in an installation direction in which said second cartridge is mounted in said main assembly a second device in which, when an attempt is made to install said first cartridge into said main assembly of the WTO of the second device, said second engaging part is in contact with said second movable member in order to prevent said first cartridge from being installed in said main assembly of the second device, and in which, when an attempt is made to install said second cartridge into said main assembly of the first device, said fourth engaging the part is in contact with said first movable member so as to prevent the installation of said second cartridge in said main assembly the first- device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system of image forming devices for forming an image on recording material, said system of image forming devices comprising (i) a first cartridge including a movable member configured to move between a first position and a second position; (ii) a first image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein said first cartridge is detachably mounted in said first image forming apparatus, said first image forming apparatus including a first engaging portion adapted to engage with said first engaging portion provided on said first movable member; and a second engaging portion adapted to engage with a second engaging portion provided on said first movable member, wherein by said first engaging portion engaging with said first engaging portion during installation of said first cartridge into said main assembly of the first devices, said first movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through -mentioned second engagement portion in the mounting direction, wherein said first cartridge is mounted to said main assembly of the first device; (iii) a second cartridge including a second movable member configured to move between a third position and a fourth position; and (iv) a second image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein said second cartridge is detachably mounted in said second image forming apparatus, said second image forming apparatus including a third engaging portion configured to engagement with a third engaging portion provided on said second movable member; and a fourth engaging portion configured to engage with a fourth engaging portion provided on said second movable member; wherein by said third engaging part engaging with said third engaging part during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said second movable member is moved from a third position to a fourth position to allow said fourth engaging part to pass through said a fourth engaging portion in an installation direction in which said second cartridge is mounted in said main assembly of a second device wa; in which, when an attempt is made to install said first cartridge into said main assembly of the second device, said second engaging part is in contact with said second movable member so as to prevent said first cartridge from being inserted into said main assembly of the second device, and in which, when an attempt is made install said second cartridge in said main assembly of the first device, said fourth engaging portion is in contact with said first member so as to prevent the installation of said second cartridge to said main assembly of the first device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein said cartridge is detachably mounted in said image forming apparatus, said image forming apparatus comprising a main assembly; a movable element movable between a protruding position in which said movable element is in an insertion path of a first contact part and a second contact part that are provided on said cartridge when said cartridge is installed in said main assembly and a retracted position in which the movable the element is pulled out of the insertion path; a first contact portion provided on said movable member for moving said movable member into a retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact part; a second contact part provided on said movable element in a downstream position from said first contact part with respect to a mounting direction of said cartridge in said main assembly, for moving said movable element into an retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact part; and a recess provided in said movable element between said first contact part and said second contact part with respect to the installation direction, said recess deepened beyond said first contact part and said second contact part in the direction of movement of said movable element, and said a recess included in the insertion path when said movable member is in a protruding position in which said first contact portion is mentioned a second contact portion capable of passing through said movable member without occurrence of said second contact portion, in said recess during installation of said cartridge to said main assembly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, an image forming apparatus including a movable member configured to move between a protruding position in which the movable member is in the way inserting said cartridge when said cartridge is installed in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and retracting a retracted position drawn from the insertion path, a first contact part provided on the movable member, a second contact part provided on the movable member in a downstream position of said first contact part relative to a mounting direction of said cartridge in the main assembly, a recess provided in the movable element between the first part for contact and the second part for contact with respect to the installation direction, a recess indented beyond the first part for contact and the second part for contact kta in the direction of movement of the movable element, and a recess included in the insertion path when the movable element is in the protruding position, said cartridge containing a first contact portion for moving the movable element into the retracted position by contact with the first contact part or the second contact part in the process of installing said cartridge in the main assembly; and a second, provided in a downstream position from said first contact part with respect to the installation direction, for moving the movable element into the retracted position by contact with the first contact part or the second contact part during installation of said cartridge into the main assembly in which said first the contact part and said second contact part are able to pass through said movable element without entering said second contact part into said recess in otsesse installing said cartridge to said main assembly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system of image forming devices for forming an image on recording material, said system of image forming devices comprising (i) a first cartridge; (ii) a first image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein said first cartridge is detachably mounted to said first image forming apparatus, said first image forming apparatus including a first movable member movable between a first protruding position in which said first movable member is in an insertion path of a first contact portion and a second contact the parts that are provided on said first cartridge when said first cartridge is installed in a first main assembly of said first image forming apparatus, and by a first retracted position in which said movable member is pulled out of the insertion path, a first contact part provided on said first movable an element for moving said first movable element to a first retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact tnoj part; a second contact portion provided on said first movable member in a downstream position of said first contact portion relative to a mounting direction of said first cartridge in said first main assembly, for moving said first movable member to a first retracted position by contact with said first contact a part or said second contact part, and a first recess provided in said first movable element between said first part for contact and said second contact part with respect to the installation direction, said first recess deepened beyond said first contact part and said second contact part in a direction of movement of said first movable member, and said first recess included in the insertion path when said the first movable element is in a protruding position in which said first contact part and said second contact part are able to pass through said a first movable element in the mounting direction without entering said second contact portion in said first recess during installation of said first cartridge to said first main assembly; (iii) a second cartridge; and (iv) a second image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein said second cartridge is detachably mounted in said second image forming apparatus, said second image forming apparatus including a second movable movable member between the second protruding position in which said second movable element is in the insertion path of the third contact part and the fourth the contact parts that are provided on said second cartridge when said second cartridge is installed in the second main assembly of said second image forming apparatus, and a second retracted position in which said second movable member is pulled out of the insertion path, a third contact part provided on said second a movable member, for moving said second movable member to a second retracted position by contact with said third contact portion, or a fourth contact part, a fourth contact part provided on said second movable element in a downstream position from said third part for contact with respect to a mounting direction of said second cartridge in said second main assembly, for moving said second movable element to a second retracted position by contact with said third contact part or said fourth contact part, and a second recess provided in said movable element there is a gap between said third contact part and said fourth contact part with respect to the installation direction, said second recess deepened beyond said third contact part and said fourth contact part in the direction of movement of said second movable member, and said second recess included in an insertion path when said second movable member is in a second protruding position, wherein said third contact portion and said fourth I contact portion capable of passing through said second movable member in the mounting direction without occurrence of said fourth contact portion in said second recess in the installation process of said second cartridge to said second main assembly; in which, when an attempt is made to install said second cartridge in said main assembly of the first device, said first recess receives at least one of said third contact part and said fourth contact part to prevent said second cartridge from moving downstream of the installation direction, and wherein, when an attempt is made to install said first cartridge into said main assembly of a second device, said second recess is received wrinkles at least one of said first contact part and said second contact part to prevent said first cartridge from moving downstream of the installation direction.

These and other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a movable tray provided in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, a first protrusion and a second protrusion provided on a cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of installing a cartridge in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the first and second protrusions provided on the cartridge.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a movable tray provided in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus and part of an insertion direction in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion when a correct cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion when the correct cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a movable tray provided in a main assembly and a part of an insertion direction according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a first and second protrusions provided on a process cartridge according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion when an incorrect cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion when an incorrect cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a state in which the position of the second protrusion deviates relative to the movable tray when the wrong cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a first and second protrusions provided on a cartridge for stably preventing erroneous insertion according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of the operation of the structure for preventing erroneous insertion when a cartridge including a configuration of a protrusion according to Embodiment 1 is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 16A is an illustration of the operation of the locking member when the correct cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1.

Figure 16B is an illustration of the functioning of the interacting structure between the movable tray and the locking element.

FIG. 17 is an illustration of the first and second protrusions provided on the cartridge having a similar result to the construction of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of designs of a movable carriage provided in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, and part of an insertion direction having a similar result with the construction of Embodiment 1.

Figure 19 is an illustration of the designs of the movable carriage provided in the cartridge, and the first and second protrusions in embodiment 2.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a construction of a part of an insertion direction provided in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion when a correct cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2.

FIG. 22 is an illustration of a construction of a part of an insertion direction provided on a cartridge according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an illustration of constructions of a movable carriage provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus and the first and second protrusions according to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 24 is an illustration of the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in the structure of Embodiment 4.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a cartridge mounted and removed relative to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus whose door is open.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view on the right of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cartridge of the structure shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning assembly and a developing cartridge assembly.

FIG. 30 is a partial perspective view (a) of the left side of the guide member of the cartridge mounting part and a partial perspective view (b) of the right side of the cartridge guide.

FIG. 31 is an illustration of how a cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an element for preventing erroneous insertion.

FIG. 33 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of an element for preventing erroneous insertion.

FIG. 34 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view of a protrusion to prevent erroneous insertion and an element to prevent erroneous insertion.

FIG. 36A is a first illustration of the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 36B is a second illustration of the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 37 is an illustration of a protrusion to prevent erroneous insertion for the wrong cartridge.

FIG. 38 is an illustration of the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the wrong cartridge is inserted.

FIG. 39 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion with respect to another main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 40 is an illustration of the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion when an incorrect cartridge is inserted into another main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 41 is an illustration of the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus in the structure of Embodiment 6.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 6.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of a cartridge mounted and removed relative to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus whose door is open.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view on the right of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 45 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cartridge of the structure shown in FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning assembly and a developing cartridge assembly.

FIG. 47 is a partial perspective view (a) of the left side of the guide member of the cartridge mounting part and a partial perspective view (b) of the right side of the cartridge guide.

FIG. 48 is an illustration of how a cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an element for preventing erroneous insertion.

FIG. 50 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of an element for preventing erroneous insertion.

FIG. 51 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion.

FIG. 52 is an enlarged view of a protrusion to prevent erroneous insertion and an element to prevent erroneous insertion.

FIG. 53A is a first illustration of the operation of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion while the cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 53B is a second illustration of the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 54 is an illustration of a protrusion for preventing erroneous insertion for the wrong cartridge.

Figure 55 is an illustration of the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the wrong cartridge is inserted.

FIG. 56 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion with respect to another main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 57 is an illustration of the functioning of the structure for preventing erroneous insertion when an incorrect cartridge is inserted into another main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 58 is an illustration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 7.

FIG. 59 is an illustration of how a cartridge is inserted into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Here, the lengths, sizes, materials, configurations, relative relative positions of the elements in further embodiments and examples are not limiting of the present invention, unless otherwise indicated.

<Embodiment 1>

[General arrangement of an example image forming apparatus]

(General location)

2 is a sectional front view illustrating the structure of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is a four-color laser printer (color electrophotographic image forming apparatus) using an electrophotographic image forming process. The image forming apparatus 100 is configured to form an image on a sheet-like recording material S (a sheet of paper, an OHP sheet, an envelope, a postcard, a label or the like) in accordance with electrical image information entered into a part of a control circuit (not shown) from the main device (not shown), such as a personal computer or image reader.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a main assembly into which several process cartridges (cartridges) can be retrievably loaded. In this embodiment, four (first through fourth) cartridges 70 (70Y, 70M, 70C, 70K) containing developers of different colors are removably installed in the main assembly 100A of the device. The main assembly 100A of the device includes the design of the image forming apparatus 100 with the exception of the cartridge 70.

The first cartridge 70Y contains yellow (Y) color toner as a developer to form an image of color Y toner on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 1a. The second cartridge 70M contains a magenta (M) toner as a developer to form an image of a toner of color M on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 1b. The third cartridge 70C contains cyan (C) toner as a developer to form an image of color C toner on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 1c. The fourth cartridge 70K contains toner of black (K) color as a developer to form an image of toner of color K on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 1d.

Each cartridge 70 includes a front side, a side, which is the axial end of the drum, and a rear side, which is the other axial end of the drum. The first to fourth cartridges 70 are installed by means of mounting elements (not shown) in mounting parts located downwardly inclined from the left side to the right side in FIG. 2 inside the apparatus main assembly 100A.

Each cartridge 70 is mounted by means of a mounting member (not shown) with its front side to the front side of the device main assembly 100A and its rear side to the rear side of the device. Each cartridge 70 is installed through the front side of the device main assembly 100A in a direction (installation direction) from the front side to the rear side and is removed in the opposite direction.

In this embodiment, each cartridge 70 is a so-called integral type process cartridge. More specifically, each cartridge 70 includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) as an image transfer member. In addition, technological means suitable for working on the drum 1 in the cartridge are provided around the drum 1. In this embodiment, the technological means include a charging shaft 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), a developing shaft 25 (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) and a cleaning element 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).

The charging shaft 2 electrically uniformly charges the surface of the drum 1. The developing shaft 25 visualizes the latent image formed on the drum 1 into the developed toner image. The cleaning element 6 removes residual toner remaining on the drum 1 after the toner image is transferred from the drum 1 to the recording material S.

The main assembly 100A of the device includes a scanner unit 3 under each cartridge 70 for forming a latent image on the drum 1 by selectively exposing the drum 1 to a beam modulated in accordance with the image information.

Under the scanner assembly 3, a cassette 17 is provided containing recording materials S. The main assembly 100A of the device on the right side is provided with recording material supply means for supplying the recording material S by the secondary transfer shaft 69 and the fixing portion 74. More specifically, a supply shaft 54 is provided for separating and feeding the recording materials S in one of cassettes 17, a pair of feed shafts 76 for feeding the supplied recording material S and a pair of recording shafts 55 for synchronization between the recording material S and the latent image formed on the drum 1.

The main assembly 100A of the device above the cartridges 70 is provided with an intermediate transfer unit 5, as an intermediate transfer means for transferring a toner image formed on the drums 1. The unit 5 includes a drive shaft 56, a driven shaft 57, shafts 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d) the primary transfer, located opposite the respective drums 1, and the opposite shaft 59, located opposite the shaft 69 of the secondary transfer, and around these shafts the transfer belt 9 is stretched.

The transfer belt 9 performs a circulating movement so as to be in contact with the respective drums 1, and the primary transfer is carried out from the drum 1 to the transfer belt 9 by applying voltage to the primary transfer shaft 58. The toner image is transferred to the recording material S from the transfer tape 9 by applying a voltage to the opposite shaft 59 located in the transfer tape 9 and to the secondary transfer shaft 69.

For the imaging operation, the drum 1 rotates at a peripheral speed in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow. The transfer belt 9 also rotates in a counterclockwise direction, indicated by arrow A, at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the drum 1. The drum 1, uniformly charged by the charging shaft 2, is selectively exposed by the scanner unit 3. By this, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 1. A latent image is developed by the developing shaft 25. Thus, color toner images are formed on the respective drums 1. By the transfer means described above, an overlaid transferred toner image containing images of colors Y, M and K is formed on transfer tape 9.

On the other hand, in synchronization with the imaging, a pair of recording shafts 55 feeds recording material S to a secondary transfer position in which the opposing shaft 59 and secondary transfer shaft 69 are located opposite each other through the transfer belt 9. By applying a bias voltage to transfer the image to the secondary transfer shaft 69, the superimposed transferred toner image is secondary transferred to the recording material S from the transfer tape. By this, a color image (loose) is formed on the recording material S.

The recording material S passed through the secondary transfer position is supplied from the transfer tape 9 and introduced into the fixing portion 74, in which the toner image is fixed by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the recording material S is discharged into the unloading part 75 by means of the unloading shafts 72. The fixing part 74 is located in the upper part of the main assembly of the device 100 Reference number 71 indicates a cleaning device for the transfer belt 9 in order to remove toner not transferred during the secondary transfer from the belt 9 transfer, and collect it in container 71a.

(Cartridge)

Figure 3 shows the main section of the toner cartridge 70. The first cartridge 70Y containing the color Y toner, the second cartridge 70M containing the color M toner, the third cartridge 70C containing the color C toner, and the cartridge 70K containing the color K toner have the same designs.

The cartridge 70 includes a cleaning unit 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) and a developing unit 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d). The cleaning unit 26 includes (in the cleaning frame 27) a drum 1, a charging shaft 2 and a cleaning element 6. The developing unit 4 includes a developing shaft 25.

The developing unit 4 is connected to the cleaning unit 26 with the possibility of swinging around the hinge part 14. In the free state, the developing unit 4 is pressed around the hinge part 14 in the direction of contact of the developing shaft 25 with the drum 1 with a predetermined pressing force by means of the pressing element 38.

In the state in which the cartridge 70 is installed in the main assembly 100A of the device and the image forming operation is performed, the developing unit 4 is released so that the developing shaft 25 is in contact with the drum 1. When the image is not formed, the compressible portion 31b of the developing unit 4 is pressed towards the pressing force of the pressing element 38 by means of a pressing element 8 (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) provided in the main assembly 100A of the device. By this, the developing unit 4 is maintained in such a state that the developing shaft 25 is at a distance from the drum 1 (the idle state of the developing shaft 25).

In the cleaning assembly 26 around the drum 1, a charging shaft 2 and a cleaning element 6 are provided, as described above. The cleaning element 6 comprises an elastic element 7 in the form of a rubber blade and a cleaning supporting element 8. A free end part 7a of the rubber blade 7 contacts the drum 1 in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of rotational movement of the drum 1. The residual toner removed from the surface of the drum 1 by the cleaning element 6, enters camera 27a for remote toner. The receptor sheet 21 is in contact with the drum 1 to prevent the remote toner from leaking from the remote toner chamber 27a. Reference number 40 denotes a lateral sealing element. The driving force is transmitted to the cleaning unit 26 from the main assembly drive motor (not shown) as the drive source to rotate the drum 1 for the image forming operation. The charging shaft 2 is rotatably mounted in the cleaning unit 26 by means of the support 28 of the charging shaft and is pressed in the direction of the drum 1 by means of the pressing element 46 of the charging shaft.

The developing unit 4 includes a developing shaft 25 that is in contact with the drum 1 rotatably in the direction of arrow B, a developing device frame 31 supporting the developing shaft 25, and a developing blade 35. The developing shaft 25 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 31 devices using a front support (not shown) and a rear support (not shown) of the developing device frame 31. At the circumference of the developing shaft 25, there is provided a toner supply shaft 34 rotatably in the direction of arrow C in contact with the developing shaft 25, and a developing blade 35 for adjusting the toner layer on the developing shaft 25 by its free end portion 35a.

A breakthrough prevention sheet 20 as a development contact sheet is provided to prevent the toner from contacting the developing device frame 31 with the developing shaft 25. The developing device frame 31 is provided with a toner holding chamber 31a including a toner supply unit 36 that mixes the contained toner and which supplies toner to the toner supply shaft 34.

(Type of cartridge replacement)

The developer contained in the developing nodes 4 of the cartridges 70 from the first to the fourth is consumed with image formation. A detection tool (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of developer is provided in each of the cartridges. A part of the control circuit compares the remaining amount detected by the detection means with a predetermined level of prior notification of cartridge life and / or with a threshold value for warning of service life.

As for the cartridge in which the remaining amount is less than the threshold value, a prior notice of the service life or a warning of the service life is displayed for this cartridge on a display part (not shown). This helps the user prepare the cartridge for replacement, or helps the user replace the cartridge, thereby maintaining the quality of the resulting images.

To replace the cartridge in the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the front door of the apparatus main assembly 100A (front access) is opened.

As shown in figure 4, the front frame 100A1, which is part of the frame of the main assembly 100A of the device, is provided with an opening 101 (101a, 101b, 101c, 101d) for the passage of the cartridge 70. Through the opening 101, the cartridge 70 is inserted into the mounting part of the cartridge in the main assembly 100A device and cartridge 70 is removed from the installation part of the cartridge.

A front door (not shown) is provided on the front side of the device main assembly 100A. The opening 101 is closed by closing the front door. In addition, by opening the front door, the opening 101 is opened, as shown in FIG. 4. Through the opening 101, the cartridge 70 is inserted and removed using front access.

In this embodiment, the cartridge 70 is inserted into the opening 101 in a direction parallel to the direction of the axis of rotation of the drum 1 (arrow F in Figure 4), with the rear side of the cartridge 70 in the leading side. In the description of this embodiment, the upstream side with respect to the insertion direction of the cartridge 70 is the “front side”, and the downstream side is the “back side”.

In the cartridge mounting part in the main assembly of the device 100, the upper guide portion 103 (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d), as the first guide part of the main assembly, is provided on the upper side to guide the installation to the main assembly. In the lower side, a lower guide portion 102 (102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) is provided as a second guide portion of the main assembly.

The upper guide portion 103 and the lower guide portion 102 extend along the insertion direction F of the cartridge 70. When inserted into the apparatus main assembly 100A, the rear side of the cartridge 70 is transferred to the front side of the lower guide portion 102 and the cartridge 70 moves along the upper guide portion 103 and the lower guide portion 102 in the direction F of the insert. In addition, the cartridge 70 is removed from the main assembly 100A of the device in the direction P.

Thus, the cartridge 70 is replaced with a new cartridge, and then the front door closes. Through operation of a cooperating mechanism (not shown) cooperating with the closing movement of the front door, the cleaning assembly 26 of the cartridge 70 inserted in the cartridge mounting portion is located in the positioning portion (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly 100A.

In addition, a portion of the drive terminal (not shown) of the main assembly 100A of the device is engaged with a portion of the receiving driving force (not shown) of the cartridge B. Also, a portion of the electrical contact (not shown) of the cartridge 70 is electrically connected to a portion of the electrical contact (not shown) of the main assembly 100A device. In this state, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform an image forming operation.

On the other hand, when the front door is opened by the operation of the cooperating mechanism interacting with the opening movement of the front door, the location of the cleaning unit 26 relative to the positioning part of the apparatus main assembly 100A is freed. In addition, the drive power receiving portion of the cartridge B is disengaged from the drive terminal portion of the apparatus main assembly 100A. In this state, the cartridge 70 can be removed.

(Design to prevent erroneous insertion)

In this embodiment, a design for preventing erroneous insertion is provided to allow only the correct cartridge 70 to be installed and to prevent the installation of the wrong cartridges.

Here, the specific main assembly of the device are the main assembly 100Aa and 100Aa 'of the device and their correct cartridges are cartridges 70Aa and 70Aa', respectively. An implementation option 1 will be described with reference to figures 1, 5 and figure 18.

1) The case of the main assembly 100Aa of the device and cartridge 70Aa.

First, a case will be described of a combination of the apparatus main assembly 100Aa and the cartridge 70Aa, which is correct for the apparatus main assembly 100Aa.

Figure 1 is a general arrangement of the movable carriage 110a provided in the main assembly 100Aa of the device, and the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, which are provided on the cartridge 70Aa. Figure 5 illustrates a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81 provided on the cartridge 70Aa, and Figure 6 illustrates a movable carriage 110a provided in the apparatus main assembly 100Aa.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the cartridge 70Aa is provided with a first protrusion 80 in the downstream side with respect to the cartridge insertion direction F and a second protrusion 81 in the upstream side from the first protrusion 80 with respect to the cartridge insertion direction F.

The main assembly 100Aa of the device is provided with a lower guide member 102 for guiding the insertion of the cartridge 70Aa, a movable carriage 110a, and a compression spring 111 for pressing the movable carriage 110a to a predetermined position. The movable carriage 110a is movable between the first position X (free), in which it engages with the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 of the cartridge 70Aa when the cartridge is inserted, and a second position Y other than the first position X.

The movable carriage 110a includes an upper guide portion 120, a middle guide portion 121, and a lower guide portion 122. The upper portion 120 and the middle guide portion 121 define a first insertion direction portion 123 therebetween. The middle guide portion 121 and the lower guide portion 122 define a second insertion direction portion 124 between them.

The first insertion direction portion 123 has a labyrinth configuration formed by the inclined surface 123a, the first flat surface portion 123b, the concave flat surface portion 123c, and so on, and has a size suitable for engagement with the first protrusion 80.

The second insertion direction portion 124 has a labyrinth configuration formed by the first flat surface portion 124a, the inclined surface 124b, the second flat surface portion 124c, and so on, and has a size suitable for engagement with the second protrusion 81.

As shown in part (a) of FIG. 6, the main assembly 100Aa of the device is provided with a locking member 112 configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the movable carriage 110a. An interaction mechanism for interacting the movable carriage 110a and the locking element 112 with each other will be described later in the materials of this application.

Parts (a) and (c) of Figure 6 show the free state of the movable carriage 110a. In the free state, the movable tray or carriage 110a is pressed by the compressive force of the compressing spring 111 located on the upper side of the upper part 120, so that the lower surface of the lower part 122 is adjacent to the upper surface of the lower guide element 102. This position of the movable carriage 110a is the first position X. On the other hand, FIG. 1 shows how the movable carriage 110a is mounted in the second position Y (different from the first position X) by engagement with the first and second protrusions 80 and 81. In this state, according to Vision carriage 110a is located at a higher position than the first position X, against the urging force of the urging spring 111.

With reference to parts (a) to (f) of FIG. 7, a description will be made of the relationship between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa and the movable carriage 110a provided in the apparatus 100Aa when the correct cartridge 70Aa is inserted. In parts (a) to (f) of FIG. 7, the left side is the front side of the apparatus main assembly 100Aa, and the right side is the back side.

(a) Before inserting the cartridge 70Aa, the movable carriage 110a is in the free state, that is, in the first position X. When the cartridge 70Aa moves in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 provided on the cartridge 70Aa is engaged with the first insertion direction portion 123, provided in the movable carriage 110a.

(b) When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 abuts against an inclined surface 123a provided at the inlet of the first insertion direction portion 123, whereby the movable carriage 110a receives force from the side of the cartridge 70Aa.

And, the movable carriage 110a, which has been moved down by the compression spring 111, moves upward to meet the compression force of the compression spring 111 in the direction of the arrow G.

(c) When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 reaches the first portion 123b of the flat surface of the first insertion portion 123 to raise the movable carriage 110a to the second position Y. Next, the second insertion portion 124 of the movable carriage 110a moved into the second position Y, becomes suitable for engagement with the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa.

(d) When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the insertion direction F, the second protrusion 81 engaged with the second insertion direction part 124 comes into contact with the first flat part 124a of the second insertion direction part 124. By this, the cartridge 70Aa is inserted in a state in which the movable carriage 110a is supported in the second position Y.

(e) When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the insertion direction F, the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa reaches the inclined surface 124b of the second part of the insertion direction. Next, the movable carriage 110a moves downward (arrow H) with the insert of the cartridge 70Aa to return to the first position X.

(f) The cartridge 70Aa is inserted further enough in the insertion direction F. Thus, the correct cartridge 70Aa can be inserted into the device 100Aa.

With reference to parts (a) to (f) of FIG. 8, a description will be made of the relationship between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa and the movable carriage 110a provided in the apparatus 100Aa when the correct cartridge 70Aa is removed. That is, the relationship will be described when the cartridge 70Aa located in the installation portion of the apparatus main assembly 100Aa is moved from the rear side to the front side of the opening 101.

(a) In a state in which the cartridge 70Aa has been sufficiently inserted into the apparatus main assembly 100Aa, the movable carriage 110a is in a free state, i.e., in a first position X.

(b) When the cartridge 70Aa moves in the ejection direction F ', the second protrusion 81 is engaged with the second insertion direction part 124 to adjoin the second inclined surface 124b of the second insertion direction part 124.

(c) When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the ejection direction F ', the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa is adjacent to the second inclined surface 124b of the movable carriage 110a. By this, the movable carriage 110a, which was supported in the first position X by the compression spring 111, moves up (arrow G) and rises to the second position Y by receiving force from the cartridge 70Aa. By this, the first protrusion 80 of the cartridge 70Aa engages with the insertion direction part 123 of the movable carriage 110a.

(d) When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the ejection direction F ', the second protrusion 81 engaged with the second insertion direction part 124 comes into contact with the first flat part 124a of the second insertion direction part 124. By this, the cartridge 70Aa is removed from the state in which the movable carriage 110a is supported in the second position Y.

When the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the ejection direction F ', the first protrusion 80 reaches the position of the inclined surface 123a of the first part of the insertion direction of the movable carriage 110a. Further, the movable carriage 110a moves downward in the direction of the arrow H in accordance with the extraction movement of the cartridge 70Aa.

The cartridge 70Aa can be removed by further moving the cartridge 70Aa in the ejection direction F '.

2) The case of the main assembly 100Aa of the device and cartridge 70Aa '.

First, a description will be given of an installation part different from the above-described installation part (main assembly 100Aa ′ of the device) and cartridge 70Aa ′, which is correct for the main assembly 100Aa ′ of the device.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the main assembly 100Aa ′ of the device, the positions of the inclined surface 123a and the first portion 123b of the flat surface of the movable carriage 110a ′ are different from those in the previous main assembly 100Aa of the device. The dashed lines show the positions of the inclined surface 123a and the first flat surface portion 123b of the apparatus main assembly 100Aa of the above described.

As shown in FIG. 10, the position of the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa ′ is different from the position of the second protrusion 81 of the above cartridge 70Aa shown by dashed lines. More specifically, the distances between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 80 are different.

A description will be given of a case in which the cartridge 70Aa '(incorrect) is inserted into the device 100Aa. With reference to parts (a) to (c) of FIG. 11, a description will be made of the relationship between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa ′ and the movable carriage 110a provided in the device 100Aa when the cartridge 70Aa ′ is inserted (incorrect).

(a) Before inserting the cartridge 70Aa ', the movable carriage 110a is in the free state, that is, in the first position X. When the cartridge 70Aa' moves in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 provided on the cartridge 70Aa 'is engaged with the first portion 123 the direction of the insert provided in the movable carriage 110a.

(b) As the cartridge 70Aa ′ moves further in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 abuts against an inclined surface 123a provided at the inlet of the first insertion direction portion 123, whereby the movable carriage 110a receives force from the side of the cartridge 70Aa ′. And the movable carriage 110a, which has been moved down to the first position X by the compression spring 111, is moved upward to the second position Y to meet the compression force of the compression spring 111 in the direction of the arrow G.

(c) When the cartridge 70Aa 'moves further in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 of the cartridge 70Aa' moves to the flat surface portion 123c of the first insertion direction portion 123.

By this, the movable carriage 110a moves downward (arrow H) to the first position X. Therefore, the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa 'cannot be engaged with the insertion portion 124 of the movable carriage 110a. That is, the erroneous insertion of the wrong cartridge 70Aa 'into the main assembly 100Aa of the device is prevented.

3) The case of the main assembly 100Aa 'of the device and cartridge 70Aa.

A description will be given of a case in which the cartridge 70Aa (incorrect) is inserted into the main assembly 100Aa 'of the device. With reference to parts (a) - (b) of figure 12, a description will be made of the relationship between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa and the movable carriage 110a 'provided in the device 100Aa' when the cartridge 70Aa is inserted (incorrect).

(a) Before inserting the cartridge 70Aa, the movable carriage 110a 'of the main assembly 100Aa' of the device is in the free state, that is, in the first position X. When the cartridge 70Aa moves in the insertion direction F, the first protrusion 80 provided on the cartridge 70Aa is engaged the first part 123 of the direction of the insert provided in the movable carriage 110a '.

(b) As the cartridge 70Aa moves further in the insertion direction F, the second protrusion 81 provided in the cartridge 70Aa abuts against a flat surface portion 121d of the middle guide portion 121 of the movable carriage 110a ′.

By this, the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa cannot be engaged with the insertion direction part 124 of the movable carriage 110a ′, which is still in the first position X. That is, erroneous insertion of the cartridge 70Aa (incorrect) into the main assembly 100Aa ′ of the device is prevented.

As described above, insertion of cartridges 70Aa 'and 70Aa, which are not correct for the main assembly 100Aa' and 100Aa of the device, in the main assembly of the device is prevented.

However, depending on changes in the locations of the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 of the cartridge 70Aa 'and / or the insertion direction parts 123 and 124 of the device 100Aa, the following situation may occur. As shown in figure 13, the second protrusion 81 may be offset from the nominal location (dashed line) relative to the second part 124 of the insertion direction.

When the positional relationship between the second protrusion 81 and the second insertion direction part 124 is as shown in FIG. 13, the middle guide portion 121 of the apparatus 100Aa can collide with the second protrusion 81, whereby the wrong cartridge 70Aa ′ can be inserted.

In view of this, as shown in FIG. 14, the second protrusion 81 ′ provided on the cartridge 70Ap is provided with a configuration having at least one flat surface 81′a oriented in the insertion direction of the cartridge. By this, as shown in FIG. 15, the second protrusion 81 ′ abuts end to end against the middle guide portion 121.

Thus, even if the position of the second protrusion relative to the second part 124 of the insertion direction deviates due to changes in the locations of the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 and / or the parts 123 and 124 of the insertion direction, the second protrusion 81 'abuts against the end of the middle guide portion 121 Therefore, the insertion of the wrong process cartridge 70p is stably prevented.

Further, as shown in part (a) of FIG. 16A, in the apparatus 100Aa, in the state in which the cartridge 70Aa is not inserted, the locking member 112 projects to the position where the cartridge 70Aa is adjacent to it in the lower guide portion 102.

As shown in part (b) of FIG. 16A, by inserting the cartridge 70Aa, the movable carriage 110a is moved upward (arrow G) by the first and second protrusions 80 and 81. Further, the locking member 112 connected to the movable carriage 110a through the cam and the link is retracted in the direction of arrow S. This makes it possible to insert the cartridge 70Aa.

Parts (a) and (b) of FIG. 16B show an example construction for operating the locking member 112. A sliding link 114 having a cam profile is connected to both a protrusion 110a provided on the movable carriage 110a and a protrusion 112a provided on the locking element 112 .

Part (a) of this figure shows the state in which the movable carriage 110a is in the first position X. In this state, the locking element 112 is in the protrusion in which the cartridge 70Aa is adjacent to it.

In the state in part (a), when the cartridge 70Aa is inserted in the main assembly 100Aa of the device, the movable carriage 110a moves up (arrow G) to the state shown in part (b) by the first and second protrusions 80 and 81. That is, by moving the movable carriage 110a to the second position Y, the sliding link 114 moves in the direction of the arrow T along the cam profile. At the same time, the locking element 112 also moves in the direction of the arrow S along the cam profile. That is, the locking member 112 is retracted to a position not interfering with the cartridge 70Aa that is inserted.

In contrast, when the movable carriage 110a moves downward, the sliding link 114 moves in the opposite direction of the arrow T along the cam profile. At the same time, the locking element 112 also moves in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow S along the cam profile.

Here, a case will be considered in which the first protrusion 80 or the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Aa and 70Aa ', for example, is lost due to a breakdown and in which the movable carriage 110a cannot be moved. In this case, the correctness of the cartridge 70Aa with respect to the main assembly 100Aa of the device cannot be distinguished and the movable carriage 110a is held in the first position X, so that the locking member 112 does not move in cooperation with the movable cartridge 110a.

Therefore, due to the fact that the cartridges 70Aa and 70Aa 'are adjacent to the locking element 112, the insertion of the cartridges 70Aa and 70Aa' is prevented and, therefore, the erroneous insertion of the cartridge 70Aa '(incorrect) can be prevented in advance.

In addition, the positions of the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 or 81 'in the longitudinal direction and the engagement position of the insertion direction portion 123 of the movable carriage 110 can be made different in practical ranges. As shown in FIG. 17, the positions of the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 or 81 ′ of the cartridge 70 can be mutually changed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 18, the configurations of the first guide portion 123 and the second guide portion 124 provided on the movable carriage 110b can be inverted, with the help of which several designs can be provided with the same useful result.

(Conclusion)

The design of the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided. It comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81 and also includes a detachable cartridge 70Aa that is detachably mounted to the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus.

The main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Aa with respect to the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a movable carriage 110a configured to move between a first X position (free state) and a second Y position other than the first X position. It further comprises a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124 that are provided in the movable carriage 110a and which may engage with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Aa is inserted into the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction part 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110a in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction part 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

2) When the cartridge 70Aa is removed from the image forming apparatus main assembly 100Aa, the second insertion direction portion 124 is engaged with the second protrusion 81 to move the movable carriage 110a to the second position Y from the first position X. The first insertion direction portion 123 may mesh with the first protrusion 80 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

3) The second protrusion 81 is provided with a flat surface 81'a facing in the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge.

The design of the cartridge 70Aa of Embodiment 1 is summarized as follows.

1) The cartridge 70Aa is detachably mounted in the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S. The main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Aa with respect to the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus. The device further comprises a movable carriage 110a configured to move between a first X position (free state) and a second Y position other than the first X position. The device further comprises a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124 that are provided in said movable the carriage 110a.

The cartridge 70Aa comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may engage with the first insertion direction part 123 and the second insertion direction part 124, respectively. When the cartridge 70Aa is inserted into the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus, the first protrusion 80 engages with the first insertion direction part 123 to move the movable carriage 110a from the first position X to the second position Y. The second protrusion 81 may be engaged with the second part 124 insertion directions only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

2) When the cartridge 70Aa is removed from the image forming apparatus main assembly 100Aa, the second protrusion 81 engages with the second insertion direction portion 124 to move the movable carriage 110a from the first position X to the second position Y. The first protrusion 80 may be engaged with the first part 123 of the insertion direction only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

3) The second protrusion 81 is provided with a flat surface 81'a facing in the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge.

The design of the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus is summarized as follows.

1) In the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S, a cartridge 70Aa including a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81 can be loaded.

2) The main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Aa with respect to the main assembly. It further comprises a movable carriage 110a configured to move between a first X position (free state) and a second Y position other than the first X position. It further comprises a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124 that are provided in the movable carriage 110a, and which may engage with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Aa is inserted into the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction part 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110a in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction part 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

3) When the cartridge 70Aa is removed from the image forming apparatus main assembly 100Aa, the second insertion direction portion 124 engages with the second protrusion 81 to move the movable carriage 110a to the second position Y from the first position X. The first insertion direction portion 123 may mesh with the first protrusion 80 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

1) A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge 70Aa with the ability to disconnect the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly 100Aa for forming an image on the recording material S. The cartridge 70Aa comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81.

The main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Aa with respect to the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a movable carriage 110a configured to move between a first X position (free state) and a second Y position other than the first X position. It further comprises a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124 that are provided in the movable carriage 110a and which may engage with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Aa is inserted into the main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction part 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110a in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction part 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

<Option 2 implementation>

Embodiment 2 is different from Embodiment 1, but may provide similar beneficial results. The image forming apparatus 100Ae of the cartridge 70Ae that is correct for the image forming apparatus 100Ae according to Embodiment 2 will be described. The general arrangements of the apparatus main assembly 100Ae and the cartridge 70Ae of this embodiment are similar to those of Embodiment 1, and therefore a description of the general Details will be omitted for simplicity.

With reference to figures 19 to 21, constructions of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the movable carriage 110a provided in the main assembly 100Aa of the device in Embodiment 1 is provided on the cartridge 70Ae.

As shown in FIG. 19, the cartridge 70Ae is provided with a movable carriage 110e and a compression spring 111 for urging the movable carriage 110e to a predetermined position. The movable carriage 110e is provided with a first protrusion 80 in the upstream side with respect to the direction of insertion of the cartridge and a second protrusion 81 in the downstream side with respect to the direction of insertion of the cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 20, the main assembly 100Ae of the device is provided with a lower guide member 102 for guiding the installation of the cartridge 70Ae. An upper guide portion 120, a middle guide portion 121, and a lower guide portion 122 are provided for guiding and engaging with the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 provided on the cartridge 70Ae during insertion of the cartridge.

The first insertion direction part 123 is composed by the upper portion 120 and the middle guide portion 121, and the second insertion direction part 124 is composed by the middle guide portion 121 and the lower portion 122. The first insertion direction part 123 has a labyrinth configuration composed by the inclined surface 123a of the first part 123b of the flat surface, the concave portion 123c of the flat surface, and so on, and has a size suitable for engagement with the first protrusion 80. The second insertion direction part 124 has a labyrinth onfiguratsiyu composed by a first part of the flat surface 124a, an inclined surface 124b, second portion 124c flat surface, and so on, and has a size suitable for engaging the second projection 81.

1) The case of the main assembly 100Ae of the device and cartridge 70Ae.

A description will be given of a case in which the correct cartridge 70Ae is inserted into the main assembly 100Ae of the device. That is, a description will be made of the relationship between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Ae and the first and second guide parts 123 and 124 when the cartridge 70Ae moves from the front side to the rear side through the opening 101 of the apparatus main assembly 100Ae.

As shown in parts (a) to (f) of FIG. 21, the movable carriage 110e provided on the cartridge 70Ae is moved being guided by the insertion direction portions 123 and 124 so that the cartridge 70Ae is inserted into the image forming apparatus 100e by means of communication similar to that of embodiment 1.

Here, in this embodiment, the movable carriage 110e is pushed upwardly by the compression spring 111. Therefore, the first X position of the movable carriage 110e in the free state is the position in which the compression spring 111 compresses it to the upper position limited by the control portion. The second position Y is the position in which the movable carriage 110e is pressed into the lower position against the compression spring 111.

The description of Embodiment 1 in connection with Figure 8, when the cartridge is removed, is applicable to this embodiment when the correct cartridge 70Ae is removed from the main assembly 100Ae of the device. That is, the description of Embodiment 1 in connection with FIG. 8 is applicable to the relationship between the movable carriage 110e and the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Ae when the cartridge 70Ae moves from the rear side toward the front side. The cartridge 70Ae is removed from the device 100Ae, while the movable carriage 110e provided on the cartridge 70Ae is guided by insertion portions 123 and 124.

Thus, the correct cartridge 70e can be mounted and removed relative to the main assembly 100Ae of the device using a structure in which the movable carriage 110e is provided on the side of the cartridge 70Ae.

2) The case of the main assembly 100Ae of the device and cartridge 70Ae '.

A description will be given of a case in which yt the correct cartridge 70Ae '(not shown) is inserted into the main assembly 100Ae of the device.

The description of Embodiment 1 in connection with Figures 11 and 12 is applicable to the case of inserting the wrong cartridge 70Ae into the image forming apparatus 100Ae '(not shown). That is, the description of Embodiment 1 in connection with Figures 11 and 12 is applicable to communication between the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 of the cartridge 70Ae and 70Ae 'and the first and second insertion direction parts 123 and 124. By this, the erroneous insertion of the wrong cartridges 70Ae and 70Ae 'into the main assemblies 100Ae and 100Ae' of the device can be prevented in advance.

Similarly to embodiment 1, the second protrusion 81 provided on the cartridges 70Ae and 70Ae 'may be provided with at least one flat surface facing in the insertion direction of the cartridge. By this, the erroneous insertion of the wrong cartridges 70Ae and 70Ae 'into the main assemblies 100e and 100e' of the device can be stably prevented.

In addition, similarly to Embodiment 1, the positions of the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 in the longitudinal direction and the engagement position of the insertion direction portion 123 of the movable carriage 110 can be changed. The positions of the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 or 81 'of the cartridge 70Ae can be mutually changed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the configuration of the first guide portion 123 and the second guide portion 124 provided on the movable carriage 110 can be inverted, thereby multiple designs with the same useful result will be provided.

(Conclusion)

The design of the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided. It comprises a detachable cartridge 70Ae that can be detachably mounted to the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, and the cartridge 70Ae includes a movable carriage 110e provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81 and arranged to move between the first position X (free state) and the second position other than the first position. The main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ae with respect to the main assembly. The device further comprises a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124, which may mesh with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ae is inserted into the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction part 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110a in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction part 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

2) When the cartridge 70Ae is removed from the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the second insertion direction portion 124 engages with the second protrusion 81 to move the movable carriage 110e to the second position Y from the first position X. The first insertion direction portion 123 may engage with the first protrusion 80 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

3) The second protrusion 81 is provided with a flat surface 81'a facing in the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge.

The design of the cartridge 70Ae is summarized as follows.

1) The cartridge 70Ae is detachably mounted in the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S. The main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ae with respect to the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus. In addition, it comprises a first insertion direction portion 123 and a second insertion direction portion 124.

The cartridge 70Ae includes a movable carriage 110e configured to move between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y other than the first position. The movable carriage 110e is provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may mesh with the first insertion direction part 123 and the second insertion direction part 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ae is inserted into the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the first protrusion 80 is engaged with the first insertion direction part 123 to move the movable carriage 110e from the first position X to the second position Y. The second protrusion 81 may be engaged with the second part 124 insertion directions only when the movable carriage 110e is in the second position Y.

2) When the cartridge 70Ae is removed from the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the second protrusion 81 is engaged with the second insertion direction part 124 to move the movable carriage 110e from the first position X to the second position Y. The first protrusion 80 may be engaged with the first part 123 of the insertion direction only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

3) The second protrusion 81 is provided with a flat surface 81'a facing in the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge.

The design of the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus is summarized as follows.

1) A main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided, a cartridge 70Ae may be loaded into the main assembly. The cartridge 70Ae includes a movable carriage 110e movable between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y other than said first position, a movable carriage 110e provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81.

The main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ae with respect to the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a first insertion direction portion 123 and a second insertion direction portion 124, which may mesh with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ae is inserted into the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110e in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110e is in the second position Y.

2) When the cartridge 70Ae is removed from the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the second insertion direction portion 124 engages with the second protrusion 81 to move the movable carriage 110e to the second position Y from the first position X. The first insertion direction portion 123 may engage with the first protrusion 80 only when the movable carriage 110e is in the second position Y.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge 70Ae with the ability to detach the imaging device 100 installed in the main assembly 100Aa to form an image on the recording material S.

The cartridge 70Ae includes a movable carriage 110e configured to move between a first position X (free state) and a second position other than said first position, a movable carriage 110e provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81.

The main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ae with respect to the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus. The device further comprises a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124, which may mesh with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ae is inserted into the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110e in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110e is in the second position Y.

<Embodiment 3>

Embodiment 3 is different from Embodiment 1 and 2, but may provide similar beneficial results. Main designs will be described for the main assembly 100Ak of the device and the cartridge 70Ak, which is correct, and therefore suitable for insertion into the main assembly 100Ak of the device.

In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numbers as in embodiment 1 are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity, since the general arrangement of the main assembly 100Ak of the device and cartridge 70Ak according to the embodiment 3 are similar to those of Embodiment 1.

This embodiment will be described with reference to figures 22 and 23. In this embodiment, the insertion direction parts 123 and 124 provided in the apparatus main assembly 100Aa in embodiments 1 and 2 are provided on the cartridge 70Ak, and the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 are provided in the main assembly 100Ak of the device.

As shown in FIG. 22, the cartridge 70Ak is provided with an upper guide portion 120, a middle guide portion 121, and a lower guide portion 122. The upper portion 120 and the middle guide portion 121 define a first insertion direction portion 123 therebetween. The middle guide portion 121 and the lower guide portion 122 define a second insertion direction portion 124 between them.

The first insertion direction portion 123 has a labyrinth configuration formed by the inclined surface 123a, the first flat surface portion 123b, the concave flat surface portion 123c, and so on, and has a size suitable for engagement with the first protrusion 80.

The second insertion direction portion 124 has a labyrinth configuration formed by the first flat surface portion 124a, the inclined surface 124b, the second flat surface portion 124c, and so on, and has a size suitable for engagement with the second protrusion 81.

As shown in FIG. 23, the device 100Ak is provided with a movable carriage 110k and a compression spring 111 for urging the movable carriage 110k to a predetermined position. The movable carriage 110k may engage with the first and second parts 123 and 124 of the insertion direction when the cartridge is inserted. The movable carriage 110k is provided with a first protrusion 80 in the upstream side with respect to the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge and a second protrusion 81 in the downstream side.

1) Case of the main assembly 100Ak of the device and cartridge 70Ak.

A description will be given of a case in which the correct cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the device.

The connection between the first and second parts 123 and 124 of the insertion direction and the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 is the same as in embodiment 1 (figures 5 and 8). The correct cartridge 70Ak can be installed and removed relative to the main assembly 100Ak of the device in designs in which the insertion direction portions 123 and 124 are provided on the cartridge 70Ak and the first and second protrusions 80 and 81 are provided on the main assembly 100Ak of the device.

Here, in this embodiment, the movable carriage 110k is pushed upwardly by the compression spring 111. Therefore, the first X position of the movable carriage 110k in the free state is the position in which the compression spring 111 pushes it to the upper position limited by the control portion. The second position Y is the position in which the movable carriage 110k is pressed into the lower position against the compression spring 111.

2) The case of the combination of the main assembly 100Ak and the cartridge 70k 'and the case of the combination of the main assembly 100Ak' and the cartridge 70k.

The description of Embodiment 1 in connection with figures 9 and 12 is essentially applicable to the case in which the wrong cartridge 70Ak '(not shown) is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the device, and to the case in which the incorrect cartridge 70Ak' is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak 'of the device (not shown) in this embodiment.

The description of Embodiment 1 in connection with Figures 9 and 12 is essentially applicable to the connection between the first and second parts 123 and 124 of the insertion direction of the cartridge and the first and second protrusions 80 and 81, in any case. Therefore, the insertion of the wrong cartridges 70Ak 'and 70Ak is prevented in advance.

Moreover, similarly to embodiment 1, the second protrusion 81 provided in the main assembly 100Ak can be provided with at least one flat surface facing in the insertion direction of the cartridge. By this, the erroneous insertion of the cartridges 70Ak 'and 70Ak can be stably prevented.

In addition, similarly to embodiment 1, the positions of the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 or 81 ′ in the longitudinal direction and the engagement position of the insertion direction portion 123 of the movable carriage 110 can be made different in practical ranges. The configurations of the first insertion direction portion 123 and the second insertion direction portion 124 of the cartridge 70Ak may be inverted. The positions of the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81 or 81 'of the movable carriage 110 may be mutually changed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Through this, several designs can be provided with the same useful result.

Thus, similar beneficial results are achieved by providing the cartridge 70Ak with insertion portions 123 and 124 and providing the main assembly 100Ak of the device with protrusions 80 and 81. That is, similar beneficial results are achieved when the movable carriage 110 is provided on the cartridge 70, as in Embodiment 2 .

(Conclusion)

The design of the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided. It comprises a cartridge 70Ak detachably mounted in the apparatus main assembly 100Aa, a cartridge 70Ak provided with a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124.

The main assembly 100Aa of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Aa with respect to the main assembly. It further comprises a movable carriage 110k adapted to move between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y different from the first position X. The movable carriage 110k is provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may engage with the first part 123 insertion directions and the second insertion direction portion 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110k in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

2) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided. It contains a cartridge 70Ak, detachably installed in the main assembly 100Ak of the device. The cartridge 70Ak is provided with a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124, and the apparatus main assembly includes a movable carriage 110k movable between a first X position (free state) and a second Y position other than the first position.

The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak relative to the main assembly. The main assembly 100Ak further comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may mesh with the first insertion direction part 123 and the second insertion direction part 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110k in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110k is in the second position Y.

3) The second protrusion 81 comprises a flat surface 81'a oriented in the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge.

The design of the 70Ak cartridge is summarized as follows.

1) The cartridge 70Ak is detachably mounted in the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S. The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak relative to the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a movable carriage 110a movable between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y different from the first position X. The movable carriage 110k is provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81.

The cartridge 70Ak comprises a first insertion direction portion 123 and a second insertion direction portion 124, which may mesh with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively. When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110k in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110a is in the second position Y.

2) The cartridge 70Aa is detachably mounted in the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S. The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak relative to the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81.

3) The cartridge 70Ak includes a movable carriage 110k configured to move between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y other than the first position. The movable carriage 110k is provided with a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124, which may mesh with the first protrusion 80 and the second protrusion 81, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110k in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110k is in the second position Y.

The design of the main assembly 100Ae of the image forming apparatus is summarized as follows.

1) A main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided, wherein the cartridge 70Ak comprising the first insertion direction part 123 and the second insertion direction part 124 is detachably mounted in the main assembly 100Ak of the device.

The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak relative to the main assembly. It further comprises a movable carriage 110k adapted to move between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y different from the first position X. The movable carriage 110k is provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may engage with the first part 123 insertion directions and the second insertion direction portion 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first protrusion 80 engages with the first insertion direction part 123 to move the movable carriage 110k from the first position X to the second position Y. The second protrusion 81 may engage with the second part 124 insertion directions only when the movable carriage 110e is in the second position Y.

2) A main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided, a cartridge 70Ak may be loaded into the main assembly. The cartridge 70Ak is provided with a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124, and the main assembly is provided with a movable carriage 110k movable between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y other than the first position.

The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 102 for guiding insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak relative to the main assembly. The main assembly 100Ak further comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may mesh with the first insertion direction part 123 and the second insertion direction part 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first protrusion 80 engages with the first insertion direction part 123 to move the movable carriage 110k from the first position X to the second position Y. The second protrusion 81 may engage with the second part 124 insertion directions only when the movable carriage 110k is in the second position Y.

3) The second protrusion 81 comprises a flat surface 81'a oriented in the direction F of the insertion of the cartridge.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

1) A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge 70Ak, with the ability to disconnect the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly 100Ak for forming an image on the recording material S. The cartridge 70Ak is provided with a first insertion direction portion 123 and a second insertion direction portion 124.

The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak with respect to the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a movable carriage 110k adapted to move between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y different from the first position X. The movable carriage 110k is provided with a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may engage with the first part 123 insertion directions and the second insertion direction portion 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110k in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110k is in the second position Y.

2) A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge 70Ak, with the possibility of disconnecting the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly 100Ak for forming an image on the recording material S. The cartridge 70Ak is provided with a first insertion direction part 123 and a second insertion direction part 124, and the main assembly is provided with a movable carriage 110k movable between a first position X (free state) and a second position Y different from the first position.

The main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus includes a guide member 102 for guiding the insertion and removal of the cartridge 70Ak with respect to the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus. The main assembly 100Ak further comprises a first protrusion 80 and a second protrusion 81, which may mesh with the first insertion direction part 123 and the second insertion direction part 124, respectively.

When the cartridge 70Ak is inserted into the main assembly 100Ak of the image forming apparatus, the first insertion direction portion 123 engages with the first protrusion 80 to move the movable carriage 110k in said first position X to the second position Y. The second insertion direction portion 124 may mesh with the second protrusion 81 only when the movable carriage 110k is in the second position Y.

<Others>

1) The function, material, configuration, relative position of the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments are not limited to those described above, unless otherwise indicated.

2) The image forming apparatus is not limited to the above-described electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It may be any other imaging device using an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording process, or other known process.

3) The image forming apparatus is not limited to a device in which only one cartridge is capable of being detached. The image forming device may be a color image forming device in which several cartridges of different colors can be detachably mounted in the installation parts of the device.

4) The cartridge is not limited to the integral type process cartridge described above. It can be a detachable type technological cartridge including technological image forming means suitable for operation on an image transferring element for image transfer, or a developing cartridge including developing means for developing a latent image formed on the image transferring element using a developer . It can be a node capable of contributing to the image formation process for forming an image on the recording material, and with the possibility of extraction can be installed in the main assembly of the image forming device.

In Embodiments 1 to 3, many types of sample configurations are provided to prevent erroneous insertion within a small space along the side relative to the mounting direction of the cartridge. In addition, by providing the protrusion with at least one flat surface, the prevention of erroneous insertion can be stabilized.

<Embodiment 4>

(1) General location

25 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment; figure 26 is a perspective view of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus in which the door 13 is open, and the cartridge B, with the possibility of disconnecting the device installed in the main assembly An; and FIG. 27 is a longitudinal section through an image forming apparatus 100.

The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is an electrophotographic laser printer with a cartridge (electrophotographic image forming apparatus) for forming an image on a recording material P (sheet material) using an electrophotographic process. The image can be formed on the sheet material P and can be output in the form of a printout (printed document) in accordance with the electrical information about the image entered in part 200 of the control circuit (control tool) from an external host device 300 (figure 27), such as a personal a computer.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a control panel on which various information, for example, imaging conditions, can be entered in part 200 of the control circuit. The control panel 102 includes a display part for displaying various items of information. In this embodiment, a control panel 102 is provided on the door 13 of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus.

Here, the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is the side in which the sheet tray 4 containing sheet material P is moved inward and outward in a substantially horizontal direction. The back side is the opposite side. The left and right sides correspond to the front view. The upper and lower sides are based on the direction of gravity. Main assembly An of the image forming apparatus (main assembly of the device) includes structural parts of the image forming apparatus with the exception of cartridge B.

With respect to the cartridge B and the elements making up the cartridge B, the longitudinal direction is parallel to the direction of the axis of rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 62, as the image transfer member, and is the direction perpendicular to the directions G1, G2 (Figure 26), in which the cartridge B is installed and removed relative to the main assembly A. The width direction is the directions G1, G2 in which the cartridge B is mounted and removed relative to the main assembly A. The front side is the side observed my downstream from the upper side relative to the direction G1, and the rear side is the downstream side with respect to the insertion direction G1. The left and right sides of cartridge B are the left and right side in front view.

In Figure 27, the cartridge mounting portion 101 is located substantially in the central portion of the main assembly A. Cartridge B is removably mounted in the mounting portion 101. In this embodiment, the cartridge B is an integral type process cartridge, as will be described later in the materials of this application. It contains an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 62 as an image transfer member for image transfer and technological imaging means including charging means 66, developing means 32 and cleaning means 77.

In this embodiment, the charging means 66 includes a charging shaft (elastic conductive shaft), the developing means 32 includes a developing shaft for a contactless type developing system using magnetic one-component toner as a developer, and the cleaning means 77 includes a cleaning blade.

The image forming apparatus 100 may form an image in a state in which the cartridge B is installed in place in the mounting portion 101 of the main assembly A. In this state, the driving force receiving portion 63 (FIG. 26) of the cartridge B is connected to the drive output portion (not shown), provided on the side of the main assembly A.

 By this, a driving force is transmitted from a part of the drive mechanism (not shown) of the main assembly to the cartridge B, and rotating elements such as a drum 62, a developing shaft 32 and a developer supply member 43 can be actuated. In the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the right side of the apparatus main assembly An and the right side of the cartridge B are the drive side, and the left side is the non-drive side.

A portion of the electrical contact (not shown) of the cartridge B is electrically connected to a portion of the electrical contact (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly An. By this, bias voltage is applied from the power supply part (not shown) in the main assembly A to the power receiving element, such as charging shaft 66, developing shaft 32 in cartridge B.

Above the cartridge B, a laser scanner assembly 3 is provided as an exposure device (exposure means). The assembly 3 outputs a laser beam modulated in accordance with the electrical image information inputted to the control circuit part 200 from the main device 300. The laser beam enters the cartridge B through the exposure window 74 provided on the upper surface of the cartridge B to the surface of the drum 62. C the lower surface of the drum 62 of the cartridge B contacts the transfer shaft 7 (transfer means) to form a transfer gap with the drum 62. The transfer shaft 7 is an elastic electrically conductive shaft and is provided with a predetermined voltage lower offset transport.

Under the transfer shaft 7, a sheet tray 4 is provided containing sheet materials P. The tray 4 can be pulled out in a substantially horizontal direction in the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. When replenishing sheet material P, tray 4 is pulled out. The elongated tray 4 is pushed into the image forming apparatus. In figures 25 and 27, the reference symbol S1 denotes the direction of pulling the tray 4, and the symbol S2 indicates the direction of pushing it inward. The reference symbol 4a denotes a grip portion provided in the front side of the tray 4.

Above the tray 4 in the front side of the main assembly An of the device, a gripper shaft 5a, a pair of retardation shafts 5b, a pair of feed shafts 5c, a pair of registration shafts 5d and a guide portion 6 are provided in the above order before being transferred. By this, a sheet material feed path is formed from the tray 4 to the transfer shaft 7.

In the rear side of the apparatus main assembly An, a fixing device 9 (fixing means) is provided, comprising a heating shaft 9a and a pressing shaft 9b. Between the transfer shaft 7 and the fixing device 9, a guide portion 8 for feeding sheet material is provided. A pair of feed shafts 10a, a sheet supply path 10b for feeding upward from a pair of feed shafts 10a and a pair of discharge shafts 10 for further feeding are provided at a rear side of the fixing device 9 in the main assembly An of the device. The upper surface of the main assembly An of the device contains a tray 11 for unloading.

The following describes the operation of imaging. Part 200 of the control circuit activates part of the drive mechanism in response to a print start signal. By this, the drum 62 rotates in a clockwise direction (arrow R) in FIG. 27 with a predetermined peripheral speed (processing speed). The laser scanner unit 3, the developing shaft 32, the developer supply member 43, the transfer shaft 7, the fixing device 9, and so on, are driven in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. The charging shaft 66 is rotated by rotating the drum 62. A predetermined charging bias voltage from the power supply portion is supplied to the charging shaft 66. By this, the surface of the drum 62 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential.

The charged surface of the drum 62 is exposed by a scanning laser beam modulated in accordance with the image signal output from the node 3 of the laser scanner. By this, an electrostatic image corresponding to the exposure pattern is formed on the surface of the drum 62. The electrostatic image is developed by the developing shaft 32 into the toner image (developer image) and falls into the transfer gap between the drum 62 and the transfer shaft 7.

On the other hand, the gripping shaft 5a is driven at a predetermined control time synchronized with the exit time of the laser beam. By this, one sheet of material P is captured from the sheet tray 4 and fed by a pair of retardation shafts 5b. The sheet material P is introduced into the transfer gap at a predetermined control time by the feed shafts 5c, the registration shafts 5d, the guide part 6 before transfer, and is fed through the transfer gap. During the passage of the sheet material P through the transfer gap to the transfer shaft 7, a predetermined transfer bias voltage is supplied from the power supply part. By this, the toner image is sequentially transferred from the drum 62 to the surface of the sheet material P.

The sheet material P passing through the transfer gap is separated from the surface of the drum 62 and introduced into the fixing device 9 through the feed guide portion 8. The surface of the drum 62 after separation of the sheet material is cleaned by means of a cleaning blade 77 so that the non-transferred toner is removed in order to be prepared for further imaging.

When the sheet material P is introduced into the fixing device 9, it is clamped and fed by the fixing gap, and is also heated and compressed. By this, the non-fixed toner image is fixed and becomes a fixed image on the surface of the sheet material. The sheet material P leaving the securing device 9 is discharged to the discharge tray 11 in the form of a print by means of a pair of feed rolls 10a, a feed path of sheet material 10b and a pair of discharge rolls 10. The feed direction of the sheet material (recording feed direction) is indicated by arrow D.

(2) Cartridge.

Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, the structure of the cartridge B will be described. FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cartridge of the structure shown in FIG. 27. Cartridge B of this embodiment is an integral type process cartridge that is a combination of a cleaning unit 60 and a developing unit 20. Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning assembly 60 and a developing assembly 20.

The cleaning assembly 60 includes a cleaning frame 71 elongated in a left-right direction. A drum 62 is provided in the frame 71 as an image transfer member for image transfer, a charging shaft 66 as an image forming tool suitable for working on the drum 62, and a cleaning blade 77.

The drum 62 is rotatably supported on the left shaft portion and the right shaft portion between the left and right side plates 71L and 71R of the frame 71 by means of support elements.

The charging shaft 66 extends above the drum 62 parallel to the drum 62 and is rotatably supported between the left and right side plates 71L and 71R of the frame 71 by means of support elements, and is pressed against the drum 62 by a pressing element (shown) with a predetermined pressing force.

The cleaning blade 77 is an elastic blade and is fixed at a predetermined location of the residual toner chamber 71b on the frame 71 by a rigid metal support member 77a or the like. The blade 77 is in contact with a predetermined pressing force with the drum 62 counter-directionally relative to the direction R of the rotational movement of the drum 62.

The developing unit 20 includes a contactless type developing device using magnetic one-component toner as a developer T in this embodiment. The assembly 20 is an assembly including a toner container 21, a top cover 22, a developing container 23, a developing blade 42, a developing shaft 32, a magnetic shaft 34, a developer supply member 43, a first side member 26L (left side), a second side element 26R (right side) and the pressing elements 46L and 46R.

The toner chamber 29 consists of a toner container 21, a top cover 22, a first side element 26L and a second side element 26R, and contains a magnetic one-component toner T as a developer. The developing container 23 is in fluid communication with the toner chamber 29 through the opening 29a. A developer supply member 43 is provided in the toner chamber 29 and can rotate in a clockwise direction (arrow C) in FIG. 28.

The developing shaft 32 is located in the developing container 23. The developing shaft 32 is presented in the form of a hollow shaft (sleeve) and is rotatably supported by supporting elements between the first and second side elements 26L, 26R (left and right). The left and right end parts of the developing shaft 32 are provided with respective dividing shafts 38L, 38R as dividing elements concentric with the developing shaft 32. The dividing shafts 38L, 38R have the same outer diameter exceeding the outer diameter of the developing shaft 32 by a predetermined amount.

Inside the developing shaft 32, without rotation, a magnetic shaft 34 (fixed magnet) is provided. The developing blade 42 is an elastic element that comprises a base portion fixed to the developing container 23 and which contains a free end in contact with the developing shaft 32 to adjust the thickness of the toner layer deposited on the surface of the developing shaft 32. The surface of the developing shaft 32 is open outwardly. side opposite the opening 29a.

The cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected by the left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R so as to be able to rotate relative to each other around the connecting elements 75L, 75R. A connection method will be described. As shown in FIG. 29, portions of the free ends of the left and right parts 23aL, 23aR of the holders formed in the left and right end parts of the developing container 23 are provided with corresponding rotational holes 23bL, 23bR in parallel with the axis of rotation of the developing shaft 32. On the other hand, the left and the right side plates 71L, 71R of the cleaning frame 71 are provided with holes 71aL, 71aR for receiving the left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R.

The left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R are inserted into the rotational holes 23bL, 23bR, respectively, while the left and right parts 23aL, 23aR of the holders are aligned with the predetermined positions of the cleaning frame 71. The left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R are aligned with each other .

By connecting between the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 in this way, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to rotate relative to each other.

The left and right pressing elements (coil springs) 46L and 46R mounted on the base part of the holder parts 23aL, 23aR are in contact with the left and right cleaning frames 71, respectively. By the pressing members 46L, 46R, the developing unit 20 is pressed against the cleaning unit 60 around the left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R.

By this, the left and right dividing shafts 38L, 38R of the developing shaft 32 are guaranteed to be pressed against the outer peripheral parts of the drum 62, and therefore, the developing shaft 32 is offset from the drum 62 by a predetermined gap, as shown in FIG. 28. An exposure window 74 is formed between the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20.

In the state in which the cartridge B is installed in place in the cartridge mounting portion 101, the cleaning assembly 60 of the cartridge B is pressed into the positioning portion of the apparatus main assembly An by a locking mechanism (not shown) in the apparatus main assembly An. By this, the cartridge B is held in place in the main assembly An of the device. In this state, the drive force receiving portion 63 (FIG. 26) of the cartridge B is connected to the drive terminal portion (not shown) provided on the side of the main assembly A. The electrical contact part (not shown) of the cartridge B is electrically connected to the electric contact part (not shown) ) the main assembly of the An device. In this state, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform an image forming operation.

That is, the drum 62 can be driven at a predetermined speed in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow R in Figure 28. The charging shaft 66 rotates by rotating the drum 62. The developing shaft 32 rotates at a predetermined speed in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow U, around the magnetic shaft 34. A predetermined charging bias voltage and a developing bias voltage are supplied to the charging shaft 66 and the developing shaft 32 at a predetermined control time, respectively.

The supply element 43 rotates at a predetermined speed in a clockwise direction indicated by arrow C. By rotating the supply element 43, the sheet (paddle) 43a of the supply element 43 supplies toner T from the toner chamber 29 to the toner supply chamber 28 of the developing container 23 through the opening 29a. Sheet 43a is made from a flexible sheet of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example, and mixes and supplies toner T.

A portion of the toner T supplied to the toner supply chamber 28 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic shaft 34 to the surface of the developing shaft 32 and transferred by rotation of the developing shaft 32, while being adjusted by the thickness of the layer by the developing blade 42. The toner layer is transferred by further rotation the developing shaft 32 to the developing zone in which the developing shaft 32 is located opposite the drum 62 to develop an electrostatic image on the drum 62. The residual toner layer not consumed by by developing, returns to the toner supply chamber 28 by further rotating the developing shaft 32, and the developing shaft 32 is provided with toner in the toner supply chamber 28.

The drum 62, after the toner image is transferred to the sheet material P, is cleaned by the cleaning blade 77 so that the residual toner on the outer peripheral surface is removed, whereby the drum 62 becomes suitable for use in the next operation of the image forming process. The toner removed from the drum 62 is contained in the residual toner chamber of the cleaning unit 60.

(3) Cartridge replacement system.

The developer (toner) T contained in the developing unit of the cartridge B is consumed to form an image.

Therefore, means (not shown) for detecting a developer residue of the cartridge B is provided, and the detected value of the remaining amount is compared with a threshold value for a predetermined prior notification of the cartridge life and / or warning of the life by means of part 200 of the control circuit. As for the cartridge B, in which the detected remaining amount is less than the threshold value, a prior notification of a service life or a warning of a service life is displayed on a display portion of the control panel 102. Through this, the user is prompted to prepare a new cartridge B or to replace cartridge B in order to maintain image quality.

The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is provided with a door 13 to open the substantially upper half of the front side and the substantially front half of the upper side. The door 13 can open and close around the hinge portion (center of rotation) 13a relative to the main assembly An of the device. The door 13 can rotate around the hinge portion 13a between the closed position W1 shown in figures 25 and 27, and the open position W2, in which it is raised in the rear side, as shown in figure 26.

In the closed position W1, the door 13 is held by means of locking means (not shown). The grip portion 13b of the door 13 is provided with a finger-operated release member to release the lock of the door 13 so that the door 13 can be moved from the closed position W1 to the open position W2. In this embodiment, the replacement of the cartridge B relative to the main assembly An of the device is performed through the open door 13, as shown in figure 26.

When the door 13 is moved from the closed position W1 to the open position W2, the door 13 is held in the open position W2 by the support member 13c. By opening the door 13, the substantially upper half of the front side and the substantially front half of the upper side of the apparatus main assembly An are opened (opening 103) as shown in FIG. 26. Through the opening 103, the cartridge B is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 101 and removed from the main assembly An device.

In the state in which the cartridge B is installed in the cartridge mounting part 101 of the main assembly unit An of the device, the front side of the installed cartridge B (the side of the developing unit 20) is open through the opening 103. In the state in which the cartridge B is not installed, the cartridge mounting part 101 is visible ( figure 26).

When the cartridge B is installed in the mounting portion 101, a cooperating mechanism (not shown) is adapted to release the locking mechanism in conjunction with moving the door 13 from the closed position W1 to the open position W2, so as to release the cartridge B from the installed and fixed state. In addition, the drive terminal portion of the main assembly An of the device disengages with the drive force receiving portion 63 of the cartridge B. By this, the cartridge B becomes usable from the mounting portion 101.

As shown in Figures 29 and 31, on the outer surfaces of the left and right side plates 71L, 71R of the cleaning frame 71 of the cleaning unit 60, protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb are symmetrically provided for the installation and removal direction (installation and removal adjustment part).

In this embodiment, two protrusions for the installation and removal direction (72La and 72Lb) are provided in a downstream position and upstream position relative to the insertion direction G1 of the cartridge B at a predetermined distance on one side, and two protrusions for the installation and removal direction (72Ra and 72Rb) are similarly provided on the other hand. The protrusions 72La and 72Ra for the installation and removal direction are located in the downstream side, and the protrusions 72Lb and 72Rb for the installation and removal direction are in the upstream side.

On the other hand, as shown in parts (a) and (b) of FIG. 30, the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R are symmetrically provided on the inside of the left and right side plates 16L, 16R of the mounting portion 101 of the cartridge of the main assembly An of the device. The guide elements 12L, 12R are inclined elements that slope downward from the front side to the rear side in a front view of the device. The guide elements 12L and 12R have corresponding guide grooves 12La and 12Ra. The guide grooves 12La and 12Ra are symmetrical and fall down towards the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 31, the widths H of the guide grooves 12La, 12Ra are slightly larger than the diameters I of the protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra, 72Rb for the direction of installation and removal of the cartridge B.

When the cartridge B is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 101, the left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb for engaging the installation and removal direction are engaged with the guide grooves 12La, 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R, respectively. The projections 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb for the installation and removal directions are guided along the guide grooves 12La and 12Ra.

When the cartridge B is removed from the cartridge mounting part 101 of the main assembly assembly An of the device, the user grabs the front side of the installed cartridge B, that is, the side of the developing unit 20 opened through the opening 103. The cartridge B is pulled in the ejection direction (arrow G2) in figures 26, 31 c so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb for the installation and removal directions move along the guide grooves 12La, 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R. By this, the cartridge B is removed from the main assembly An of the device.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the mounting portion 101 of the apparatus main assembly An, the user grabs the side of the developing unit and inserts the cartridge B in the direction of the mounting portion 101 through the opening 103 with the side of the cleaning portion 60 in the leading side. Then, the left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb, and 72Ra, and 72Rb for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B are engaged with the guide grooves 12La and 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R.

Then, the cartridge B is moved in the insertion direction (arrow G2) in Figures 26, 31 so that the left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb for the installation and removal directions move along the guide grooves 12La, 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L , 12R, respectively. The protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra, 72Rb for the direction of installation and removal of the cartridge B are regulated by the guide grooves 12La, 12Ra, whereby the position of the cartridge B is maintained during insertion. The cartridge B is inserted sufficiently until the insert is stopped by a locking member (not shown).

Then, the door 13 is moved from the open position W2 to the closed position W1 against the support member 13c and is locked by the locking means. By means of a cooperating mechanism, the locking mechanism is locked in cooperation with the movement of the door 13 from the open position W2 to the closed position W1. By this, the cartridge B is mounted and secured in the positioning portion of the apparatus main assembly An. In addition, the drive output portion of the main assembly An of the device is connected to the drive force receiving portion 63 of the cartridge B.

(4) Design to prevent erroneous insertion.

A design will be described to prevent erroneous insertion of the wrong cartridge. In the following (4-1), a case will first be described in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. Then, the case in which the wrong cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, and the case in which the wrong cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device, and not into the main assembly A1 of the device, will be described in (4-2) and (4 -3), respectively.

As for the case in which the correct cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device, the description is omitted since the situation is the same as the case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. In the following description, the same reference numbers are assigned to the main assembly A1 of the device, the main assembly A2 of the device, cartridge B1 and cartridge B2, and a detailed description of the corresponding elements is omitted for simplicity.

(4-1) A case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

This case will be described with reference to figures 24, 26 and 29-35.

As shown in figures 29 and 31, on the non-drive side of the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B1, the outer surface of the left side plate 71L in this embodiment is provided with a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b (protrusions to prevent erroneous insertion) in the form of protrusions.

A protrusion to prevent erroneous insertion may be provided on each or one of the drive side (right side) and the non-drive side (left side) of the cartridge B1. In this embodiment, it is provided on the non-drive side of the cartridge B1.

A structure for preventing erroneous insertion of the apparatus main assembly A1, which will be described later in the materials of this application, is provided on the non-drive side in this embodiment.

As shown in parts (a) of figures 26 and 30 and in figures 32-34, the left guide element 12L of the apparatus main assembly A1 is provided with a groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion. Here, as shown in FIG. 34, the distance between the upper surface 12Lb1 of the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion and the lower surface 12La1 of the guide groove 12La is indicated by J. The distance between the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion and the tangent K1 to the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the installation direction and extraction from the protrusion side (73a, 73b) to prevent erroneous insertion, designated K. The distance J is less than the distance K.

Therefore, when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, while the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B move along the guide groove 12La, the protrusions 73a and 73b enter the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion.

Here, the difference between the distance K between the tangent K1 and the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion and the distance J between the upper surface 12Lb1 and the lower surface 12La1 is larger than the difference between the width H of the guide groove 12La and the diameter I of the protrusion 72La for the installation and removal direction, i.e. KJ> HI. Therefore, the protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion do not contact the upper surface 12Lb1 of the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion, and the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

By this, as described earlier in the materials of the present application, the insertion position of the cartridge B1 at the time when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device is determined by the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the installation direction and removal of the cartridge B1, limited by the guide groove 12La.

As shown in parts (a) of figures 26 and 30, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion (movable element) is provided so that its part protrudes into the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion of the left guide element 12L. As shown in an exploded perspective view of FIG. 32, the guide member 12L is provided with a recess 12Lc on a surface in contact with a side plate 16L of the apparatus main assembly A1.

The depth M of the recess 12Lc in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction of the device) is greater than the width N of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction of the device). As shown in FIG. 33, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is located in the recess 12Lc of the guide member 12L and is compressed in the direction of the arrow E by compression springs 17a, 17b, and can be retracted in the direction of the arrow F.

At this time, protrusions 15a, 15b for adjusting the protrusion of the member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion are in contact with protrusions 12Ld, 12Le for adjusting the protrusion of the guide member 12L, respectively, whereby the protrusion of the member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion from the guide member 12L is limited. Thus, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is held in position Y, in which a portion of the mis-insertion preventing member 15 enters the groove 12Lb to prevent the mis-insertion of the guide member 12L.

As described previously in the materials of this application, when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B1 pass through the guide groove 12La and the protrusions 73a, 73b pass through the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion insertion. That is, as shown in FIG. 34, the cartridge B1 can be inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device by moving the cartridge B1 in the direction of the arrow G1, which is the insertion direction of the guide member 12L.

With reference to parts (a) to (f) of figure 24, the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device will be described. 35 is an enlarged view of a portion of protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 and a portion of member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion of the apparatus main assembly A1. With reference to FIG. 24, the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion will be described.

(a) The cartridge B1 is moved in the insertion direction along arrow G1 so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of the cartridge B1 are moved along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Thus, the protrusion protrusion 73a is in contact with the first contact portion 15c (the first protrusion) of the erosion preventer 15 located in the protruding position Y. At this time, the lifting surface 73a1 of the protrusion 73a of the protrusion is in contact with surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of the arrow F.

And, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is retracted to the first retracted position Z1, in which the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

(c) Similarly, when the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in contact with the first protrusion 15c, the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion is retracted in the direction of arrow F. That is, the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion is retracted to the first retracted position Z1 in which the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion.

Thus, the first protrusion 15c of the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is retracted in the direction of the arrow F, which is the retracting direction of the mis-insertion preventing member 15, from the insertion path of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent the mis-insertion of the cartridge B1. By this, protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion pass through this part at a distance from the first protrusion 15c in the direction of arrow E.

(d) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion protrusion 73a abuts against the second contact portion 15d (second protrusion) of the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion, while the protrusion 73b for erroneous insertion supports the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion pulled into the first retracted position Z1.

At this time, the rising surface 73a1 of the protrusion protrusion 73a is adjacent to the surface 15d1 of the second protrusion 15d of the erroneous insertion element 15 so that the erratic insertion prevention element 15 is pulled further from the first retracted position Z1 further in the direction of arrow F.

The mis-insertion preventing member 15 moves to the second retracted position Z2, which is retracted further from the first retracted position Z1, in which the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d is in contact with the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

(e) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the surface 73b2 of the protrusion protrusion 73b abuts against the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion, while the protrusion 73a of erroneous insertion supports the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the second retracted position. Thus, the second protrusion 15d of the mis-insertion member 15 is retracted from the insertion path of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent the cartridge B1 from being erroneously inserted in the direction of the arrow F, which is the retraction direction of the mis-insertion member 15. By this, protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion pass through this part at a distance from the second protrusion 15c in the direction of arrow E.

(f) By further moving the cartridge B1, the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 is separated from the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion so that the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion returns to the protruding position Y.

Thus, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is drawn out of the insertion path of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent the mis-insertion of the cartridge B1 in the direction of the arrow F so that the protruding insertion protrusions 73a, 73b are allowed to pass through this part at a distance from the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of arrow E. Thus, the cartridge B1 can be inserted into the imaging position of the main assembly A1 of the device.

With reference to parts (a) to (d) of FIG. 36A and parts (e) to (i) of FIG. 36B, the operation of the structure will be described to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge B1 in the cartridge mounting portion 101 is removed from the apparatus main assembly A1 . Functioning during extraction back to functioning during insertion.

(a) The cartridge B1 is moved in the ejection direction along the arrow G2 so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of the cartridge B1 are moved along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Thus, the rising surface 73b3 of the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in contact with the surface 15d3 of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion.

(c) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is retracted in the direction of the arrow F by abutting the rising surface 73b3 to the surface 15d3. The erroneous insertion preventing member 15 is retracted until the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d begins to abut against the surface 73b2 of the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion (second retracted position Z2). By this, further movement of the cartridge B1 in the direction of the arrow G1 becomes possible, so that the protrusions 73b and 73a to prevent erroneous insertion pass by moving in the direction of protrusion of the second protrusion 15d.

Even when the erroneous insertion protrusion 73b extends over the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d, the erroneous insertion prevention member 15 is held in the second retracted position Z2 by the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion moving along the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d.

(d) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the anti-erosion protrusion 73a extends over the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d and the erroneous-protrusion surface 73a1 of the erroneous insertion protrusion 73a abuts the second protrusion 15d1 of the protrusion 15d so that the erroneous insertion preventing member 15 protrudes arrow direction E. At this point, the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in a position corresponding to the first protrusion 15c, and the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with the surface 15c2 of the protrusion 73b rashchenija erroneous insertion, so that the member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is held in the first retracted position.

(e) As the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion protrusion 73b protrudes along the first protrusion 15c, and the erratic protrusion surface 73b1 contacts the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c.

(f) Further, the surface 73a3 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the surface 15c3 of the first protrusion 15c. In the process (e) to (f), the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion extends slightly beyond the first retracted position in the direction of arrow E.

As the cartridge B1 moves further, the mis-insertion member 15 is retracted in the direction of the arrow F by abutting the surface 73a3 to the surface 15c3. The mis-insertion preventing member 15 is retracted to a position in which a surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with a surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. The element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is drawn into the first retracted position Z1. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G2.

(h) As the cartridge B1 moves further, the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion passes along the first surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c, and the surface 73a1 of the protrusion 73a of the protrusion 73a contacts the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c.

(i) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is separated from the first protrusion 15c and the cartridge B1 is removed from the main assembly An of the device. Element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion protrudes in the direction of arrow E in the initial protruding position Y.

Thus, the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 pass through the second protrusion 15d and the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion so that the cartridge B1 can be removed from the main assembly A1 of the device.

(4-2) A case in which the wrong cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

With reference to figures 34, 37 and 38, a case will be described in which the wrong cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. Figure 37 is an illustration of a protrusion to prevent erroneous insertion for the wrong cartridge. Figure 38 illustrates the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion when the cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

As shown in FIG. 37, the non-drive side of the cleaning frame 71 (left side plate 71L) of the cartridge B2 is provided with protrusions 73c, 73d to prevent erroneous insertion, similarly to the cartridge B1 (FIG. 34). The distance O2, measured in the direction of arrow G1 (Figure 37, insertion direction) between the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion and the protrusion 73d to prevent erroneous insertion, is greater than the distance O1 between the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion shown in figure 34.

With reference to parts (a) to (c) of figure 38, operation will be described when the cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

(a) Cartridge B2 is moved in the insertion direction along arrow G1 so that protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of cartridge B2 move along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Then, the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion. At this time, the lifting surface 73c1 of the protrusion protrusion 73c contacts the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of arrow F. The element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion moves to the first retracted position Z1, in which the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is adjacent to the surface 73c2 of the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

(c) As the cartridge B2 moves further, the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the surface 15d4 of the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion. This happens because, as previously described in the materials of the present application, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is pushed in the direction of arrow E by compression springs 17a, 17b so that it is maintained in the protruding position Y.

This prevents further movement of the cartridge B2 in the direction of arrow G1. Thus, the cartridge B2 cannot be inserted into the image forming position of the apparatus main assembly A1.

It is possible to move the cartridge B2 in the ejection direction (G2) from this position, since the surface 73c3 of the protrusion 73c is prevented from abutting the surface 15c3 of the first protrusion 15c to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion into the first retracted position Z1. The element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is returned to the protruding position Y by restoring a free state.

(4-3) A case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device.

With reference to figures 34, 39 and 40, a description will be given of a case in which the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device for which the cartridge B1 is incorrect. 39 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion of a device main assembly A2, which is different from the device main assembly A1. Figure 40 is an illustration of the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device.

As shown in FIG. 39, an element 18 is provided on the non-drive side of the apparatus main assembly A2 to prevent erroneous insertion, similarly to the apparatus main assembly A1 described above. However, the distance Q2 between the first protrusion 18c and the second protrusion 18d of the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion in the direction of the arrow G1 (cartridge insertion direction) is greater than the distance Q1 between the first protrusion 15c and the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion shown in figure 34 .

This is because, when the correct cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device, the insertion of the cartridge B2 can occur in the same way as in the case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. The first protrusion 18c and the second protrusion 18d of the mis-insertion member 18 are positioned so that the cartridge B2 can be inserted in the image forming position of the apparatus main assembly A2.

More specifically, in a state in which the protrusion 73d of preventing erroneous insertion causes the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion to be pulled into the first retracted position Z1, the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the second protrusion 18d of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. And, in the state in which the protrusion 73c for preventing erroneous insertion causes the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion to be pulled into the second retracted position, the protrusion 73d for preventing erroneous insertion is adjacent to the second protrusion of the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion.

With reference to parts (a) to (c) of FIG. 40, operation will be described when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device.

(a) The cartridge B1 is moved in the insertion direction along arrow G1 so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of the cartridge B1 are moved along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Then, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the first protrusion 18c of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. At this time, the rising surface 73a1 of the protrusion 73a of the protrusion 73a is in contact with the surface 18c1 of the first protrusion 18c of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion to retract the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of arrow F. The element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion is moved to the first retracted the position Z1, in which the surface 18c2 of the first protrusion 18c is adjacent to the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

Similarly, when the protrusion 73b for preventing erroneous insertion is adjacent to the first protrusion 18c, the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion is retracted so that the cartridge B1 can move further in the direction of arrow G1.

Thus, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion and the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 pass through the first protrusion 18c of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion.

(c) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the surface 18d4 of the second protrusion 18d of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. This occurs because the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion is pushed in the direction of arrow E by compression springs 17a, 17b so that it is maintained in the protruding position Y.

This prevents further movement of the cartridge B1 in the direction of the arrow G1. Thus, the cartridge B1 cannot be inserted in the image forming position of the apparatus main assembly A2.

It is possible to move the cartridge B1 in the ejection direction (G2) from this position since the surface 73c3 of the protrusion 73c is prevented from abutting the surface 15c3 of the first protrusion 15c to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion into the first retracted position Z1. The element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion is returned to the protruding position Y by restoring a free state.

(5) Conclusion

Embodiment 4 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided. It comprises a cartridge B including a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b, a cartridge B detachably mounted in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. It comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, a movable member 15 movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. It can come into contact with the second contact part 15d only when the first contact part 73a is adjacent to the second contact part 15d to pull the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y into the second retracted position Z2 drawn from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

4) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

5) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

6) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

7) The movable member 15 is held by the guide member 12L for guiding the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. The cartridge is provided with projections 72La and 72Lb for installation and removal directions, which are guided by the guide member 12L when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus.

The design of cartridge B is summarized as follows.

1) A cartridge B is provided that can be detachably installed in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus 100, a cartridge B including a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, and a movable member 15 movable between the protruding position Y and retracted position Z.

It further includes a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b. When it is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact part 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

2) When it is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact portion 15d. It can come into contact with the second contact part 15d only when the first contact part 73a is adjacent to the second contact part 15d to pull the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y into the second retracted position Z2 drawn from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

The design of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus is determined as follows.

1) A main assembly (A) of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P is provided, and the cartridge B provided with the first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b is detachably mounted in it. It comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, a movable member 15 movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact portion 15d as follows. It can come into contact with the second contact part 15d only when the first contact part 73a is adjacent to the second contact part 15d to pull the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y into the second retracted position Z2 drawn from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

4) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

5) the movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

6) When the cartridge is inserted, the movable member 15 is held by the guide member 12L to guide the cartridge. The cartridge is provided with projections 72La and 72Lb for installation and removal directions, which should be guided by the guide member 12L when the cartridge is inserted.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge B, with the ability to disconnect the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly An to form an image on the recording material P. The main assembly An of the image forming apparatus includes a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d and includes a movable member 15 movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z. The cartridge B includes a first contact part 73a and a second contact portion 73b.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

Due to the above-described structures for preventing erroneous insertion, the structure for preventing erroneous insertion can be placed in the insertion opening of the cartridge of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. Element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is provided in recess 12Lc of guide element 12L, and the direction of movement is indicated by arrows E and F, and, in addition, protrusions 73a and 73b for preventing erroneous insertion extend in the direction of arrow E of element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in FIG. 24, whereby no influence is exerted on the main assembly of the device in the longitudinal direction. Erroneous insertion can be guaranteed to be prevented among the structures of various devices or in the device using a simple design.

Therefore, the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus and the cartridge B can be provided, with which the correctness can be determined near the opening for inserting the cartridge of the image forming apparatus A, and the main assembly of the image forming apparatus is not affected in the longitudinal direction, so that the erroneous insert may be prevented by simple construction.

<Embodiment 5>

In the construction of Embodiment 4, the design for preventing erroneous insertion can be changed so that the first contact portion 73a (73e) and the second contact portion 73b (73f) can be provided in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, wherein the movable member 15 (18) provided on cartridge B.

In this case, the design of the image forming apparatus 100 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P is provided. It contains a cartridge B including a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d and which is provided with a movable member 15 that is movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z, the cartridge B detachably mounted in the main assembly An imaging devices. It further comprises a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact portion 15d as follows. It can come into contact with the second contact part 15d only when the first contact part 73a is adjacent to the second contact part 15d to pull the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y into the second retracted position Z2 drawn from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

4) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

5) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

6) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

The design of the cartridge 70Ae is summarized as follows.

1) A cartridge B is provided that can be detachably installed in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material P, a cartridge B including a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b. It comprises a movable member 15 comprising a first contact portion 15c and a second contact portion 15d, a movable member 15 movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When it is inserted into the main assembly (A) of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact portion 15d as follows. It can come into contact with the second contact part 15d only when the first contact part 73a is adjacent to the second contact part 15d to pull the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y into the second retracted position Z2 drawn from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

4) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

5) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

The design of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus is determined as follows.

1) A main assembly An of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P is provided, including a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, wherein the cartridge B includes a movable member 15 movable between protruding position Y and retracted position Z. It further comprises a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact portion 15d as follows. It can come into contact with the second contact part 15d only when the first contact part 73a is adjacent to the second contact part 15d to pull the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y into the second retracted position Z2 drawn from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 of the cartridge B and in the retraction direction F of the movable member 15.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge B, with the ability to disconnect the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly An to form an image on the recording material P. The main assembly An of the image forming apparatus comprises a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b. The cartridge B is provided with a first contact portion 15c and a second contact portion 15d and a movable member 15 movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d as follows. Namely, by means of a second contact portion 73b adjacent to the first contact portion 15c to move the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1, the first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d.

The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d. The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b extend through the side of the first contact portion 73a with respect to the directions of movement E and F with respect to the movable member 15.

Similar results with embodiment 4 are provided according to this embodiment 5.

<Others>

1) The function, material, configuration, relative position of the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments are not limited to those described above, unless otherwise indicated.

2) The image forming apparatus is not limited to the above-described electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It may be any other imaging device using an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording process, or other known process.

3) The image forming apparatus is not limited to a device in which only one cartridge is capable of being detached. The image forming device may be a color image forming device in which several cartridges of different colors can be detachably mounted in the installation parts of the device.

4) The cartridge is not limited to the integral type process cartridge described above. It can be a detachable type technological cartridge including technological image forming means suitable for operation on an image transferring element for image transfer, or a developing cartridge including developing means for developing a latent image formed on the image transferring element using a developer . It can be a node capable of contributing to the image formation process for forming an image on the recording material, and with the possibility of extraction can be installed in the main assembly of the image forming device.

According to embodiments 4 and 5, a structure for preventing erroneous insertion may be placed in the insertion opening of the cartridge of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. Erroneous insertion can be guaranteed to be prevented among various device designs, correctness can be determined near the opening for inserting the cartridge of the image forming apparatus A, and the main assembly of the image forming apparatus is not affected in the longitudinal direction, so erroneous insertion can be prevented by a simple construction . In this way, an erroneous insertion can be determined near the opening for inserting the cartridge of the image forming apparatus A, and the main assembly of the image forming apparatus is not affected in the longitudinal direction, so that the erroneous insertion can be prevented by a simple construction.

<Embodiment 6>

(1) General arrangement of an example image forming apparatus.

Figure 42 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment; figure 43 is a perspective view of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus in which the door 13 is open, and the cartridge B, with the possibility of disconnecting the device installed in the main assembly An; and FIG. 44 is a longitudinal section through an image forming apparatus 100.

The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is an electrophotographic laser printer with a cartridge (electrophotographic image forming apparatus) for forming an image on a recording material P (sheet material) using an electrophotographic process. The image can be formed on the sheet material P and can be output in the form of a printout (printed document) in accordance with the electrical information about the image entered in part 200 of the control circuit (control tool) from an external host device 300 (figure 44), such as a personal a computer.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a control panel on which various information, for example, imaging conditions, can be entered in part 200 of the control circuit. The control panel 102 includes a display part for displaying various items of information. In this embodiment, a control panel 102 is provided on the door 13 of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus.

Here, the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is the side in which the sheet tray 4 containing sheet material P is moved inward and outward in a substantially horizontal direction. The back side is the opposite side. The left and right sides correspond to the front view. The upper and lower sides are based on the direction of gravity. Main assembly An of the image forming apparatus (main assembly of the device) includes structural parts of the image forming apparatus with the exception of cartridge B.

Regarding the cartridge B and the elements making up the cartridge B, the longitudinal direction is parallel to the direction of the axis of rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 62, as the image transfer member, and is the direction perpendicular to the directions G1, G2 (Figure 43), in which the cartridge B is installed and removed relative to the main assembly A. The width direction is the directions G1, G2 in which the cartridge B is mounted and removed relative to the main assembly A. The front side is the side observed my downstream from the upper side relative to the direction G1, and the rear side is the downstream side with respect to the insertion direction G1. The left and right side of cartridge B are the left and right side in front view.

In Figure 44, the cartridge mounting portion 101 is located substantially in the central portion of the main assembly A. Cartridge B is removably mounted in the mounting portion 101. In this embodiment, the cartridge B is an integral type process cartridge, as will be described later in the materials of this application. It contains an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (drum) 62 as an image transfer member for image transfer and technological imaging means including charging means 66, developing means 32 and cleaning means 77.

In this embodiment, the charging means 66 includes a charging shaft (elastic conductive shaft), the developing means 32 includes a developing shaft for a contactless type developing system using magnetic one-component toner as a developer, and the cleaning means 77 includes a cleaning blade.

The image forming apparatus 100 may form an image in a state in which the cartridge B is installed in place in the mounting portion 101 of the main assembly A. In this state, the driving force receiving portion 63 (figure 26) of the cartridge B is connected to a drive output portion (not shown) provided on the side of the main assembly A. By this, a driving force is transmitted from a part of the drive mechanism (not shown) of the main assembly to the cartridge B, and rotating elements such as the drum 62, the developing shaft 32 and the developer supply element 43 can be attracted Eden into action. In the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the right side of the apparatus main assembly An and the right side of the cartridge B are the drive side, and the left side is the non-drive side.

A portion of the electrical contact (not shown) of the cartridge B is electrically connected to a portion of the electrical contact (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly An. By this, bias voltage is applied from the power supply part (not shown) in the main assembly A to the power receiving element, such as charging shaft 66, developing shaft 32 in cartridge B.

Above the cartridge B, a laser scanner assembly 3 is provided as an exposure device (exposure means). The assembly 3 outputs a laser beam modulated in accordance with the electrical image information inputted to the control circuit part 200 from the main device 300. The laser beam enters the cartridge B through the exposure window 74 provided on the upper surface of the cartridge B to the surface of the drum 62. C the lower surface of the drum 62 of the cartridge B contacts the transfer shaft 7 (transfer means) to form a transfer gap with the drum 62. The transfer shaft 7 is an elastic electrically conductive shaft and is provided with a predetermined voltage lower offset transport.

Under the transfer shaft 7, a sheet tray 4 is provided containing sheet materials P. The tray 4 can be pulled out in a substantially horizontal direction in the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. When replenishing sheet material P, tray 4 is pulled out. The elongated tray 4 is pushed into the image forming apparatus. In figures 42 and 44, the reference symbol S1 denotes the direction of pulling the tray 4, and the symbol S2 indicates the direction of pushing it inward. The reference symbol 4a denotes a grip portion provided in the front side of the tray 4.

Above the tray 4 in the front side of the main assembly An of the device, a gripping shaft 5a, a pair of retardation shafts 5b, a pair of feed shafts 5c, a pair of recording shafts 5d and a guide portion 6 are provided in the named order before being transferred. By this, a sheet material feed path is formed from the tray 4 to the transfer shaft 7.

In the rear side of the apparatus main assembly An, a fixing device 9 (fixing means) is provided, comprising a heating shaft 9a and a pressing shaft 9b. Between the transfer shaft 7 and the fixing device 9, a guide portion 8 for feeding sheet material is provided. A pair of feed shafts 10a, a sheet supply path 10b for feeding upward from a pair of feed shafts 10a and a pair of discharge shafts 10 for further feeding are provided at a rear side of the fixing device 9 in the main assembly An of the device. The upper surface of the main assembly An of the device contains a tray 11 for unloading.

The following describes the operation of imaging. Part 200 of the control circuit activates part of the drive mechanism in response to a print start signal. By this, the drum 62 rotates in a clockwise direction (arrow R) in FIG. 27 with a predetermined peripheral speed (processing speed). The laser scanner unit 3, the developing shaft 32, the developer supply member 43, the transfer shaft 7, the fixing device 9, and so on, are driven in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. The charging shaft 66 is rotated by rotating the drum 62. A predetermined charging bias voltage from the power supply portion is supplied to the charging shaft 66. By this, the surface of the drum 62 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential.

The charged surface of the drum 62 is exposed by a scanning laser beam modulated in accordance with the image signal output from the node 3 of the laser scanner. By this, an electrostatic image corresponding to the exposure pattern is formed on the surface of the drum 62. The electrostatic image is developed by the developing shaft 32 into the toner image (developer image) and falls into the transfer gap between the drum 62 and the transfer shaft 7.

On the other hand, the gripping shaft 5a is driven at a predetermined control time synchronized with the exit time of the laser beam. By this, one sheet of material P is captured from the sheet tray 4 and fed by a pair of retardation shafts 5b. The sheet material P is introduced into the transfer gap at a predetermined control time by the feed shafts 5c, the registration shafts 5d, the guide part 6 before transfer, and is fed through the transfer gap. During the passage of the sheet material P through the transfer gap to the transfer shaft 7, a predetermined transfer bias voltage is supplied from the power supply part. By this, the toner image is sequentially transferred from the drum 62 to the surface of the sheet material P.

The sheet material P passing through the transfer gap is separated from the surface of the drum 62 and introduced into the fixing device 9 through the feed guide portion 8. The surface of the drum 62 after separation of the sheet material is cleaned by means of a cleaning blade 77 so that the non-transferred toner is removed in order to be prepared for further imaging.

When the sheet material P is introduced into the fixing device 9, it is clamped and fed by the fixing gap, and is also heated and compressed. By this, the non-fixed toner image is fixed and becomes a fixed image on the surface of the sheet material. The sheet material P leaving the securing device 9 is discharged to the discharge tray 11 in the form of a print by means of a pair of feed rolls 10a, a feed path of sheet material 10b and a pair of discharge rolls 10. The feed direction of the sheet material (recording feed direction) is indicated by arrow D.

(Cartridge)

Referring to FIGS. 45 and 46, the construction of cartridge B will be described. FIG. 45 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cartridge of the construction shown in FIG. 44. Cartridge B of this embodiment is an integral type process cartridge that is a combination of a cleaning unit 60 and a developing unit 20. Figure 46 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning assembly 60 and a developing assembly 20.

The cleaning assembly 60 includes a cleaning frame 71 elongated in a left-right direction. A drum 62 is provided in the frame 71 as an image transfer member for image transfer, a charging shaft 66 as an image forming tool suitable for working on the drum 62, and a cleaning blade 77.

The drum 62 is rotatably supported on the left shaft portion and the right shaft portion between the left and right side plates 71L and 71R of the frame 71 by means of support elements.

The charging shaft 66 extends above the drum 62 parallel to the drum 62, and is rotatably supported between the left and right side plates 71L and 71R of the frame 71 by means of support elements, and is pressed against the drum 62 by a pressing element (shown) with a predetermined pressing force.

The cleaning blade 77 is an elastic blade and is fixed at a predetermined location of the residual toner chamber 71b on the frame 71 by a rigid metal support member 77a or the like. The blade 77 is in contact with a predetermined pressing force with the drum 62 counter-directionally relative to the direction R of the rotational movement of the drum 62.

The developing unit 20 includes a contactless type developing device using magnetic one-component toner as a developer T in this embodiment. The assembly 20 is an assembly including a toner container 21, a top cover 22, a developing container 23, a developing blade 42, a developing shaft 32, a magnetic shaft 34, a developer supply member 43, a first side member 26L (left side), a second side element 26R (right side) and the pressing elements 46L and 46R.

The toner chamber 29 consists of a toner container 21, a top cover 22, a first side element 26L and a second side element 26R, and contains a magnetic one-component toner T as a developer. The developing container 23 is in fluid communication with the toner chamber 29 through the opening 29a. A developer supply element 43 is provided in the toner chamber 29 and can rotate in a clockwise direction (arrow C) in FIG. 45.

The developing shaft 32 is located in the developing container 23. The developing shaft 32 is presented in the form of a hollow shaft (sleeve) and is rotatably supported by supporting elements between the first and second side elements 26L, 26R (left and right). The left and right end parts of the developing shaft 32 are provided with respective dividing shafts 38L, 38R as dividing elements concentric with the developing shaft 32. The dividing shafts 38L, 38R have the same outer diameter exceeding the outer diameter of the developing shaft 32 by a predetermined amount.

Inside the developing shaft 32, without rotation, a magnetic shaft 34 (fixed magnet) is provided. The developing blade 42 is an elastic element that comprises a base portion fixed to the developing container 23 and which contains a free end in contact with the developing shaft 32 to adjust the thickness of the toner layer deposited on the surface of the developing shaft 32. The surface of the developing shaft 32 is open outwardly. side opposite the opening 29a.

The cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected by the left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R so as to be able to rotate relative to each other around the connecting elements 75L, 75R. A connection method will be described. As shown in FIG. 46, portions of the free ends of the left and right parts 23aL, 23aR of the holders formed in the left and right end parts of the developing container 23 are provided with corresponding rotational holes 23bL, 23bR in parallel with the axis of rotation of the developing shaft 32. On the other hand, the left and the right side plates 71L, 71R of the cleaning frame 71 are provided with holes 71aL, 71aR for receiving the left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R.

The left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R are inserted into the rotational holes 23bL, 23bR, respectively, while the left and right parts 23aL, 23aR of the holders are aligned with the predetermined positions of the cleaning frame 71. The left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R are aligned with each other.

By connecting between the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 in this way, the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to rotate relative to each other.

The left and right pressing elements (coil springs) 46L and 46R mounted on the base part of the holder parts 23aL, 23aR are in contact with the left and right cleaning frames 71, respectively. By means of the pressing elements 46L, 46R, the developing unit 20 is pressed against the cleaning unit 60 around the left and right connecting elements 75L, 75R.

By this, the left and right dividing shafts 38L, 38R of the developing shaft 32 are guaranteed to be pressed against the outer peripheral parts of the drum 62, and therefore, the developing shaft 32 is offset from the drum 62 by a predetermined gap, as shown in FIG. 28. An exposure window 74 is formed between the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20.

In the state in which the cartridge B is installed in place in the cartridge mounting portion 101, the cleaning assembly 60 of the cartridge B is pressed into the positioning portion of the apparatus main assembly An by a locking mechanism (not shown) in the apparatus main assembly An. In this state, the driving force receiving portion 63 (FIG. 26) of the cartridge B is connected to the drive terminal portion (not shown) provided on the side of the main assembly A. The electrical contact part (not shown) of the cartridge B is electrically connected to the electric contact part (not shown) main assembly An device. In this state, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform an image forming operation.

That is, the drum 62 can be driven at a predetermined speed in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow R in Figure 45. The charging shaft 66 rotates by rotating the drum 62. The developing shaft 32 rotates at a predetermined speed in a counterclockwise direction indicated by arrow U , around the magnetic shaft 34. A predetermined charging bias voltage and a developing bias voltage are supplied to the charging shaft 66 and the developing shaft 32 at a predetermined control time, respectively.

The supply member 43 rotates at a predetermined speed in a clockwise direction indicated by arrow C. By rotating the supply member 43, the sheet (paddle) 43a of the supply member 43 supplies toner T from the toner chamber 29 to the toner supply chamber 28 of the developing container 23 through the opening 29a. The sheet 43a is made of a flexible sheet of PPS, PC, PET, for example, and mixes and supplies toner T.

A portion of the toner T supplied to the toner supply chamber 28 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic shaft 34 to the surface of the developing shaft 32 and transferred by rotation of the developing shaft 32, while being adjusted by the thickness of the layer by the developing blade 42. The toner layer is transferred by further rotation the developing shaft 32 to the developing zone in which the developing shaft 32 is located opposite the drum 62 to develop an electrostatic image on the drum 62. The residual toner layer not consumed by by developing, returns to the toner supply chamber 28 by further rotating the developing shaft 32, and the developing shaft 32 is provided with toner in the toner supply chamber 28.

The drum 62, after the toner image is transferred to the sheet material P, is cleaned by the cleaning blade 77 so that the residual toner on the outer peripheral surface is removed, whereby the drum 62 becomes suitable for use in the next operation of the image forming process. The toner removed from the drum 62 is contained in the residual toner chamber of the cleaning unit 60.

(3) Type of cartridge replacement.

The developer (toner) T contained in the developing unit of the cartridge B is consumed to form an image.

Therefore, means (not shown) for detecting a developer residue of the cartridge B is provided, and the detected value of the remaining amount is compared with a threshold value for a predetermined prior notification of the cartridge life and / or warning of the life by means of part 200 of the control circuit. As for the cartridge B, in which the detected remaining amount is less than the threshold value, a prior notification of a service life or a warning of a service life is displayed on a display portion of the control panel 102. Through this, the user is prompted to prepare a new cartridge B or to replace cartridge B in order to maintain image quality.

The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is provided with a door 13 to open the substantially upper half of the front side and the substantially front half of the upper side. The door 13 can open and close around the hinge portion (center of rotation) 13a relative to the main assembly An of the device. The door 13 can rotate around the hinge portion 13a between the closed position W1 shown in figures 25 and 27, and the open position W2, in which it is raised in the rear side, as shown in figure 26.

In the closed position W1, the door 13 is held by means of locking means (not shown). The grip portion 13b of the door 13 is provided with a finger-operated release member to release the lock of the door 13 so that the door 13 can be moved from the closed position W1 to the open position W2. In this embodiment, the replacement of the cartridge B relative to the main assembly An of the device is performed through the open door 13, as shown in figure 43.

When the door 13 is moved from the closed position W1 to the open position W2, the door 13 is held in the open position W2 by the support member 13c. By opening the door 13, the substantially upper half of the front side and the substantially front half of the upper side of the apparatus main assembly An are opened (opening 103) as shown in FIG. 43. Through the opening 103, the cartridge B is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 101 and removed from the main assembly An devices.

In the state in which the cartridge B is installed in the cartridge mounting part 101 of the main assembly unit An of the device, the front side of the installed cartridge B (the side of the developing unit 20) is open through the opening 103. In the state in which the cartridge B is not installed, the cartridge mounting part 101 is visible ( figure 43).

When the cartridge B is installed in the mounting portion 101, a cooperating mechanism (not shown) is adapted to release the locking mechanism in conjunction with moving the door 13 from the closed position W1 to the open position W2, so as to release the cartridge B from the installed and fixed state. In addition, the drive terminal portion of the main assembly An of the device disengages with the drive force receiving portion 63 of the cartridge B. By this, the cartridge B becomes usable from the mounting portion 101.

As shown in figures 46 and 48, on the outer surfaces of the left and right side plates 71L, 71R of the cleaning frame 71 of the cleaning unit 60, protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb are symmetrically provided for the installation and removal direction (installation and removal adjustment part).

In this embodiment, two protrusions for the installation and removal direction (72La and 72Lb) are provided in a downstream position and upstream position relative to the insertion direction G1 of the cartridge B at a predetermined distance on one side, and two protrusions for the installation and removal direction (72Ra and 72Rb) are provided in a similar manner on the other hand. The protrusions 72La and 72Ra for the installation and removal direction are located in the downstream side, and the protrusions 72Lb and 72Rb for the installation and removal direction are in the upstream side.

On the other hand, as shown in parts (a) and (b) of figure 47, on the inner sides of the left and right side plates 16L, 16R of the mounting portion 101 of the cartridge of the main assembly An of the device, the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R are symmetrically provided. The guide elements 12L, 12R are inclined elements that slope downward from the front side to the rear side in a front view of the device. The guiding elements 12L and 12R are provided with respective guiding surfaces 12La and 12Ra.

The left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb and 72Ra, 72Rb for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B installed in the cartridge mounting part 101 are engaged with the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R and the guide surfaces 12La and 12Ra, respectively. The projections 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb for the installation and removal directions are guided along the guide surfaces 12La, 12Ra.

When the cartridge B is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 101 of the main assembly assembly An of the device, the user grabs the front side of the installed cartridge B, that is, the side of the developing unit 20 open through the opening 103. The cartridge B moves in the ejection direction along the arrow G2 in figures 43, 48 so so that the left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra, 72Rb for the installation and removal directions are located along the guide surfaces 12La, 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R, respectively. By this, the cartridge B is removed from the main assembly An of the device.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the mounting portion 101 of the apparatus main assembly An, the user grabs the side of the developing unit and inserts the cartridge B in the direction of the mounting portion 101 through the opening 103 with the side of the cleaning portion 60 in the leading side. And the left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra, 72Rb for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B are engaged with the guide surfaces 12La, 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R, respectively.

The cartridge B moves further in the insertion direction along arrow G1 in figures 43 and 48, while the left and right protrusions 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra, 72Rb for the installation and removal direction are located along the guide surfaces 12La, 12Ra of the left and right guide elements 12L, 12R respectively. The cartridge B is inserted sufficiently until the insert is stopped by a locking member (not shown).

Then, the door 13 is moved from the open position W2 to the closed position W1 against the support member 13c and is locked by the locking means. By means of a cooperating mechanism, the locking mechanism is locked in cooperation with the movement of the door 13 from the open position W2 to the closed position W1. By this, the cartridge B is mounted and secured in the positioning portion of the apparatus main assembly An. In addition, the drive output portion of the main assembly An of the device is connected to the drive force receiving portion 63 of the cartridge B.

(4) Design to prevent erroneous insertion.

A design will be described to prevent erroneous insertion of the wrong cartridge. In the following (4-1), a case will first be described in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. Then, the case in which the wrong cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, and the case in which the wrong cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device, and not into the main assembly A1 of the device, will be described in (4-2) and (4 -3) respectively.

As for the case in which the correct cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device, the description is omitted since the situation is the same as the case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. In the following description, the same reference numbers are assigned to the main assembly A1 of the device, the main assembly A2 of the device, cartridge B1 and cartridge B2, and a detailed description of the corresponding elements is omitted for simplicity.

(4-1) A case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

This case will be described with reference to figures 24, 26 and 29-35.

As shown in figures 46 and 48, on the non-drive side of the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B1, the outer surface of the left side plate 71L in this embodiment is provided with a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b (protrusions to prevent erroneous insertion) in the form of protrusions.

A protrusion to prevent erroneous insertion may be provided on each or one of the drive side (right side) and the non-drive side (left side) of the cartridge B1. In this embodiment, it is provided on the non-drive side of the cartridge B1.

A structure for preventing erroneous insertion of the apparatus main assembly A1, which will be described later in the materials of this application, is provided on the non-drive side in this embodiment.

As shown in parts (a) of figures 43 and 47 and figures 49-51, the left guide element 12L of the device main assembly A1 is provided with a groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion. Here, as shown in FIG. 51, the distance between the control surface 12Lb1 of the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion and the guide surface 12La is denoted by J. The distance between the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion and the tangent K1 to the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for installation direction and removal with the side of the protrusion (73a, 73b) to prevent erroneous insertion is indicated by K. The distance J is slightly less than the distance K.

Therefore, when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, while the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B move along the guide groove 12La, the protrusions 73a and 73b enter the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion.

Moreover, by protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion passing through the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion, the insertion position of the cartridge B1 is adjusted while the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. By this, the insertion position of the cartridge B1, when it is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, is stabilized as follows. The positions of the installation and removal projections 72La and 72Lb are controlled by the guide surface 12La, and the positions of the protrusions 73a and 73b to prevent erroneous insertion are adjusted by the surface 12Lb1 of the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion.

Thus, changing the insertion paths of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent the cartridge B1 from being erroneously inserted with respect to the guide element 12L of the apparatus main assembly A1 while the cartridge B1 is inserted into the apparatus main assembly A1 is restrained.

As shown in parts (a) of figures 43 and 47, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion (movable element) is provided so that its part protrudes into the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion of the left guide element 12L. As shown in exploded perspective view of FIG. 49, the guide member 12L is provided with a recess 12Lc on a surface in contact with a side plate 16L of the apparatus main assembly A1.

The depth M of the recess 12Lc in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction of the device) is greater than the width N of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction of the device). As shown in FIG. 50, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is located in a recess 12Lc of the guide member 12L and is compressed in the direction of the arrow E by compression springs 17a, 17b, and can be retracted in the direction of the arrow F.

At this time, protrusions 15a, 15b for adjusting the protrusion of the member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion are in contact with protrusions 12Ld, 12Le for adjusting the protrusion of the guide member 12L, respectively, whereby the protrusion of the member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion from the guide member 12L is limited.

Thus, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is held in the protruding position Y protruding into the groove 12Lb to prevent the mis-insertion relative to the control surface 12Lb1 of the guide member 12L by the guiding member 12L.

As described previously in the materials of this application, when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device, the protrusions 73a and 73b to prevent erroneous insertion extend into the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion of the guide element 12L. That is, as shown in FIG. 51, the cartridge B1 can be inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device by moving the cartridge B1 in the direction of the arrow G1, which is the insertion direction into the guide member 12L.

With reference to parts (a) to (f) of FIG. 41, the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device will be described. 52 is an enlarged view of a portion of protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 and a portion of member 15 for preventing erroneous insertion of the apparatus main assembly A1. With reference to FIG. 41, the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion will be described.

(a) The cartridge B1 is moved in the insertion direction along arrow G1 so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of the cartridge B1 are moved along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Thus, the protrusion protrusion 73a is in contact with the first contact portion 15c (the first protrusion) of the erratic insert 15 located in the protruding position Y. At this time, the rising surface 73a1 of the protrusion protrusion 73a is in contact with the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion, to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of the arrow F.

And, the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is pulled into the first retracted position Z1, in which the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

(c) Similarly, when the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in contact with the first protrusion 15c, the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion is retracted in the direction of arrow F. And the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion is retracted to the first retracted position Z1, in which surface 15c2 of the first the protrusion 15c is in contact with the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion.

Thus, the first protrusion 15c of the mis-insertion preventing member 15 is retracted in the direction of the arrow F, which is the retracting direction of the mis-insertion preventing member 15, from the insertion path of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent the mis-insertion of the cartridge B1. By this, protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion pass through this part at a distance from the first protrusion 15c in the direction of arrow E.

(d) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion protrusion 73a abuts against the second contact portion 15d (second protrusion) of the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion, while the protrusion 73b for erroneous insertion supports the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion pulled into the first retracted position Z1.

At this time, the rising surface 73a1 of the protrusion protrusion 73a is adjacent to the surface 15d1 of the second protrusion 15d of the erroneous insertion element 15 so that the erratic insertion prevention element 15 is pulled further from the first retracted position Z1 further in the direction of arrow F.

The mis-insertion preventing member 15 moves to the second retracted position Z2, which is retracted further from the first retracted position Z1, in which the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d is in contact with the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

(e) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the surface 73b2 of the protrusion protrusion 73b abuts against the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion, while the protrusion 73a of erroneous insertion supports the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the second retracted position. Thus, the protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 pass through the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of arrow E.

(f) By further moving the cartridge B1, the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 is separated from the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion so that the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion returns to the protruding position Y.

Thus, the protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 extend in the direction of arrow E, in which the first protrusion 15c and the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion protrude, so that the cartridge B1 becomes usable in the imaging position The main assembly of the A1 device.

As described above, during the sequence of operations described above, the positions of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 are adjusted by the adjusting surface 12Lb1 of the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion. Therefore, changing the positions of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 with respect to the erroneous insertion member 15 supported by the guide member 12L can be restrained.

By this, it is not necessary to make the contact surface so wide as to guarantee contact between the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion and the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion when considering the case in which the positions of the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion relative to the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion inserts vary significantly.

Therefore, protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion and the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion can be reduced in size and require small spaces.

With reference to parts (a) to (d) of FIG. 53A and parts (e) to (i) of FIG. 53B, the operation of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion while the cartridge B1 in the cartridge mounting portion 101 is removed from the main assembly A1 will be described. devices. Functioning during extraction back to functioning during insertion.

(a) The cartridge B1 is moved in the ejection direction along the arrow G2 so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of the cartridge B1 are moved along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Thus, the rising surface 73b3 of the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in contact with the surface 15d3 of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion.

(c) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is retracted in the direction of the arrow F by abutting the rising surface 73b3 to the surface 15d3. The erroneous insertion preventing member 15 is retracted until the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d begins to abut against the surface 73b2 of the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion (second retracted position Z2). By this, further movement of the cartridge B1 in the direction of the arrow G1 becomes possible, so that the protrusions 73b and 73a to prevent erroneous insertion pass by moving in the direction of protrusion of the second protrusion 15d.

Even when the erroneous insertion protrusion 73b extends over the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d, the erroneous insertion prevention member 15 is held in the second retracted position Z2 by the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion moving along the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d.

(d) As the cartridge B1 moves further, the anti-erosion protrusion 73a extends over the surface 15d2 of the second protrusion 15d, and the erroneous-protrusion surface 73a1 of the erroneous insertion protrusion 73a is adjacent to the second protrusion 15d of the surface 15d1 so that the erroneous insertion preventing member 15 protruded in the direction of arrow E. At this point, the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in a position corresponding to the first protrusion 15c, and the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with the surface 15c2 of the protrusion 73b preventing erroneous insertion so that the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is held in the first retracted position.

(e) As the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion protrusion 73b protrudes through the first protrusion 15c, and the erosion protrusion surface 73b1 contacts the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c.

(f) Further, the surface 73a3 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the surface 15c3 of the first protrusion 15c. In the process (e) to (f), the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion extends slightly beyond the first retracted position in the direction of arrow E.

(g) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is retracted in the direction of the arrow F by abutting the surface 73a3 to the surface 15c3. The mis-insertion preventing member 15 is retracted to a position in which a surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is in contact with a surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. The element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is drawn into the first retracted position Z1. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G2.

(h) As the cartridge B1 moves further, the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion passes along the first surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c, and the surface 73a1 of the protrusion 73a of the protrusion 73a contacts the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c.

(i) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is separated from the first protrusion 15c, and the cartridge B1 is removed from the main assembly An of the device. Element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion protrudes in the direction of arrow E in the initial protruding position Y.

Thus, the protrusions 73a, 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 pass through the second protrusion 15d and the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion so that the cartridge B1 can be removed from the main assembly A1 of the device.

(4-2) A case in which the wrong cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

With reference to figures 51, 54 and 55, a case will be described in which the wrong cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. 54 is an illustration of a protrusion for preventing erroneous insertion for the wrong cartridge. Figure 55 illustrates the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion when the cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

As shown in FIG. 54, the non-drive side of the cleaning frame 71 (left side plate 71L) of the cartridge B2 is provided with protrusions 73c, 73d to prevent erroneous insertion, similarly to the cartridge B1 (FIG. 51). The distance O2 measured in the direction of arrow G1 (Figure 54, insertion direction) between the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion and the protrusion 73d to prevent erroneous insertion is greater than the distance O1 between the protrusions 73a and 73b to prevent erroneous insertion shown in Figure 51.

With reference to parts (a) to (c) of figure 55, operation will be described when the cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

(a) Cartridge B2 is moved in the insertion direction along arrow G1 so that protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of cartridge B2 move along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Then, the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion. At this time, the rising surface 73c1 of the protrusion protrusion 73c contacts the surface 15c1 of the first protrusion 15c of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of arrow F. The element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion moves into the first retracted a position Z1 in which the surface 15c2 of the first protrusion 15c is adjacent to the surface 73c2 of the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion. By this, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

(c) As the cartridge B2 moves further, the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the surface 15d4 of the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion. This happens because, as previously described in the materials of the present application, the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is pushed in the direction of arrow E by compression springs 17a, 17b so that it is maintained in the protruding position Y.

This prevents further movement of the cartridge B2 in the direction of arrow G1. Thus, the cartridge B2 cannot be inserted into the image forming position of the apparatus main assembly A1.

It is possible to move the cartridge B2 in the ejection direction (G2) from this position, since the surface 73c3 of the protrusion 73c is prevented from abutting the surface 15c3 of the first protrusion 15c to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion into the first retracted position Z1. The element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is returned to the protruding position Y by restoring a free state.

(4-3) A case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

With reference to figures 51, 56 and 57, a description will be given of a case in which the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device for which the cartridge B1 is incorrect.

56 is an illustration of a structure for preventing erroneous insertion of a device main assembly A2, which is different from the device main assembly A1. Figure 57 is an illustration of the functioning of the structure to prevent erroneous insertion when the cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device. As shown in FIG. 56, an element 18 is provided on the non-drive side of the apparatus main assembly A2 to prevent erroneous insertion, similarly to the apparatus main assembly A1 described above. However, the distance Q2 between the first protrusion 18c and the second protrusion 18d of the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion in the direction of the arrow G1 (cartridge insertion direction) is larger than the distance Q1 between the first protrusion 15c and the second protrusion 15d of the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion shown in FIG. 51 .

This is because, when the correct cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A2 of the device, the insertion of the cartridge B2 can occur in the same way as in the case in which the correct cartridge B1 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device. The first protrusion 18c and the second protrusion 18d of the mis-insertion member 18 are positioned so that the cartridge B2 can be inserted in the image forming position of the apparatus main assembly A2.

More specifically, in a state in which the protrusion 73d of preventing erroneous insertion causes the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion to be pulled into the first retracted position Z1, the protrusion 73c to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the second protrusion 18d of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. And in a state in which the protrusion 73c of the erroneous insertion retracts the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion into the second retracted position, the protrusion 73d of the prevention of erroneous insertion contacts the second protrusion of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. Positions and dimensions are set in this way.

With reference to parts (a) to (c) of FIG. 57, operation will be described when the cartridge B2 is inserted into the main assembly A1 of the device.

(a) The cartridge B1 is moved in the insertion direction along arrow G1 so that the protrusions 72La, 72Lb for the insertion and removal directions of the cartridge B1 are moved along the guide groove 12La of the guide member 12L. At this time, the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion is in the free state, that is, it is in the protruding position Y.

(b) Then, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the first protrusion 18c of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. At this time, the rising surface 73a1 of the protrusion 73a of the protrusion 73a is in contact with the surface 18c1 of the first protrusion 18c of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion to retract the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion in the direction of arrow F. The element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion is moved to the first retracted position Z1, in which the surface 18c2 of the first protrusion 18c is adjacent to the surface 73a2 of the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion. Thus, the cartridge B1 can be moved further in the direction of the arrow G1.

Similarly, when the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion is in contact with the first protrusion 18c, the cartridge B1 becomes suitable for further movement by retracting the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion.

Thus, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion and the protrusion 73b to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B1 pass through the first protrusion 18c of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion.

(c) When the cartridge B1 moves further, the protrusion 73a to prevent erroneous insertion is adjacent to the surface 18d4 of the second protrusion 18d of the element 18 to prevent erroneous insertion. This happens because, as previously described in the materials of this application, the element 18 for preventing erroneous insertion is pushed in the direction of arrow E by compression springs 17a, 17b so that it is maintained in the protruding position Y.

This prevents further movement of the cartridge B2 in the direction of arrow G1. Thus, the cartridge B1 cannot be inserted in the image forming position of the apparatus main assembly A2.

It is possible to move the cartridge B2 in the ejection direction (G2) from this position, since the surface 73c3 of the protrusion 73c is prevented from abutting the surface 15c3 of the first protrusion 15c to retract the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion into the first retracted position Z1. The element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion is returned to the protruding position Y by restoring a free state.

(5) Conclusion

The design of the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 6 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P is provided. It comprises a cartridge B including a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b, a cartridge B detachably mounted in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a guide member 12L provided with a control surface 12Lb1 for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B. It further comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, a movable member 15 adapted to move relative to the guide member 12L between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the regulating surface 12La adjusts the positions of the first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b of the cartridge B. The first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d by the second contact contact portion 73b with the first contact portion 15c, thereby moving the movable member 15 to the first retracted position Z1 from the protruding position Y. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second h There is only 15d for contact when it can contact the second contact part 15d.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. The second contact portion 73b may only come into contact with the second contact portion 15d when the first contact portion 73a is adjacent to the second contact portion 15d to retract the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the second retracted position Z2 retracted from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

4) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

5) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

6) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

7) Part of the movable element 15 extends beyond the regulatory surface 12Lb1 in the protruding position Y.

8) The movable member 15 is supported by the guide member 12L. The cartridge B is provided with projections 72La, 72Lb, 72Ra and 72Rb for installation and removal directions, which are guided by the guide elements 12L and 12R when the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. The design of the cartridge 70Ae is summarized as follows.

1) A cartridge is provided that can be detachably installed in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P. The main assembly An of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 12L for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B, provided with a control surface 12Lb1. It further comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z relative to said guide element 12L.

Cartridge B includes a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b. When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the regulating surface 12La adjusts the positions of the first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b of the cartridge B. The first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d by the second contact contact portion 73b with the first contact portion 15c, thereby moving the movable member 15 to the first retracted position 1 from the protruding position Y. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second h st 15d to contact only when it can be contacted with the second contact part 15d.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. The second contact portion 73b may only come into contact with the second contact portion 15d when the first contact portion 73a is adjacent to the second contact portion 15d to retract the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the second retracted position Z2 retracted from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

The design of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus is determined as follows.

1) A main assembly An of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P is provided, in which the cartridge B provided with the first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b is detachably mounted in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus. It further comprises a guide member 12L provided with a control surface 12Lb1 for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B. It further comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact portion 15c and a second contact portion 15d, a movable member 15 movable relative to the guide member 12L between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the regulating surface 12La adjusts the positions of the first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b of the cartridge B. The first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d by the second contact contact portion 73b with the first contact portion 15c, thereby moving the movable member 15 to the first retracted position 1 from the protruding position Y. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second h st 15d to contact only when it can be contacted with the second contact part 15d.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. The second contact portion 73b may only come into contact with the second contact portion 15d when the first contact portion 73a is adjacent to the second contact portion 15d to retract the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the second retracted position Z2 retracted from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

4) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

5) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

6) A portion of the movable member 15 extends beyond the control surface 12Lb1 in the protruding position Y.

7) The movable member 15 is supported by the guide member 12L.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge B, with the ability to disconnect the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly An to form an image on the recording material P. The main assembly An of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member 12L provided with a control surface 12Lb1 for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B. It further comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, a movable member 15 movement relative to the guide member 12L between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z. The cartridge B includes a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the regulating surface 12La adjusts the positions of the first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b of the cartridge B. The first contact portion 73a becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d by the second contact contact portion 73b with the first contact portion 15c, thereby moving the movable member 15 to the first retracted position 1 from the protruding position Y. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second h st 15d to contact only when it can be contacted with the second contact part 15d.

Using the structure for preventing erroneous insertion, as described previously, the structure for preventing erroneous insertion may be located near the opening for inserting the cartridge of the image forming apparatus A. Therefore, protrusions 73a, 73b for preventing erroneous insertion and the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion can be reduced in size and require small spaces. Erroneous insertion can be guaranteed to be prevented among the structures of various devices or in the device using a simple design.

Therefore, an image forming apparatus An and a cartridge B can be provided with which the correctness can be determined near the opening for inserting the cartridge of the image forming apparatus A, and erroneous insertion can be prevented by a simple and small structure that can be located in a narrow space.

<Embodiment 7>

Embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described. Only parts other than embodiment 6 will be described in the description of this embodiment. Materials, configurations, and so on are the same as those in embodiment 6, unless otherwise indicated. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numbers as in the previous embodiments are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity.

(1) Install and remove the cartridge.

With reference to figures 58, 59, installation and removal of the cartridge B with respect to the main assembly An of the device will be described. Figure 58 is the main assembly An of the device and a perspective view of the cartridge B, in which the door 13 is open for mounting and removing the cartridge B. Figure 59 is a schematic sectional view while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the device.

The surface of the drive side (the outer surface of the right side plate 71R) of the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B is provided with protrusions 72Ra and 72Rb for installation and removal directions, similar to embodiment 6. The cartridge is inserted into the main assembly An of the device, while the protrusions 72Ra and 72Rb for installation and removal directions, they move along the guide surface 12Ra of the guide member 12R provided inside the right side plate 16R of the apparatus main assembly An.

On the other hand, the non-drive side surface (outer surface of the left side plate 71L) of the cleaning frame 71 is provided with protrusions 73e and 73f to prevent erroneous insertion, as shown in FIG. 59.

A guide member 12L on the non-drive side of the apparatus main assembly An is provided with a groove 12Lb for preventing erroneous insertion, as shown in Figure 58. As shown in Fig. 59, the width H of the groove 12Lb for preventing erroneous insertion is greater than the width I of the protrusions 73e and 73f for preventing erroneous insertion cartridge insert B.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the device, the cartridge B moves in the insertion direction indicated by the arrow G1 in Figure 59, while the protrusions 73e and 73f to prevent erroneous insertion of the cartridge B are located along the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion. At this time, the protrusions 73e and 73f for preventing erroneous insertion of the cartridge B are adjusted by the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion, whereby the insertion position of the cartridge B is maintained.

(2) Design to prevent erroneous insertion.

As described previously in the materials of this application, when the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the device, the protrusions 73e and 73f to prevent erroneous insertion are adjusted by the groove 12Lb to prevent erroneous insertion. Thus, changing the insertion path of the protrusions 73e and 73f to prevent erroneous insertion relative to the guide member 12L is restrained when the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the device.

By this, it is not necessary to make the contact surface so wide as to guarantee contact between the protrusions 73e, 73f to prevent erroneous insertion and the element 15 to prevent erroneous insertion when considering the case in which the position of the protrusions 73e, 73f to prevent erroneous insertion relative to the element 15 to prevent erroneous inserts vary significantly. Therefore, protrusions 73e, 73f for preventing erroneous insertion and the element 15 for preventing erroneous insertion can be reduced in size and require small spaces.

<Embodiment 8>

In the construction of Embodiment 4, the design for preventing erroneous insertion can be changed so that the first contact portion 73a (73e) and the second contact portion 73b (73f) can be provided in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, wherein the movable member 15 (18) provided on cartridge B.

In this case, the design of the image forming apparatus 100 is summarized as follows.

1) An image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material S is provided. It contains a cartridge B including a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d and which is provided with a movable member 15 that is movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z, the cartridge B detachably mounted in the main assembly An imaging devices. It further comprises a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b. It further comprises a guide member 12L provided with a control surface 12Lb1 for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the adjusting surface 12La adjusts the position of the movable member 15 of the cartridge B. The first contact part 73a becomes contactable with the second contact part 15d by the second contact part 73b in contact with the first contact part 15c thus, moving the movable member 15 to the first retracted position 1 from the protruding position Y. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only if when she can contact the second part 15d for contact.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. The second contact portion 73b may only come into contact with the second contact portion 15d when the first contact portion 73a is adjacent to the second contact portion 15d to retract the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the second retracted position Z2 retracted from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

4) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

5) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

6) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

7) The cartridge is provided with protrusions 72La and 72Lb for installation and removal directions, which are guided by the guide member 12L when the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus.

The design of the cartridge 70Ae is summarized as follows.

1) A cartridge is provided that can be detachably installed in the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P. The main assembly An of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member (12L) for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B, a guide member including a first contact portion 73a, a second contact portion 73b, and an adjustment surface 12Lb1.

The cartridge B comprises a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d and movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z. When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the first contact part 73a becomes suitable for contact with the second contact part 15d by said second contact part 73b in contact with the first contact part 15c in order to move the movable member 15 from the protruding dix Y in the first retracted position Z1. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. The second contact portion 73b may only come into contact with the second contact portion 15d when the first contact portion 73a is adjacent to the second contact portion 15d to retract the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the second retracted position Z2 retracted from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact part 15c and the second contact part 15d are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 15c1 and 15d1 that are inclined in the upstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction E of the protrusion of the movable element 15.

4) The first contact portion 15c is located upstream of the second contact portion 15d with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus).

5) The movable member 15 is pressed into the protruding position Y by means of the pressing means 17a and 17b.

6) The cartridge B is provided with mounting and removal parts 72La, 72Lb that are guided by the guide member 12L when the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus.

The design of the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus is determined as follows.

1) A main assembly An of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming an image on the recording material P is provided, including a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d, wherein the cartridge B includes a movable member 15 movable between protruding position Y and retracted position Z. It further comprises a first contact portion 73a and a second contact portion 73b. It further comprises a guide member 12L provided with a control surface 12Lb1 for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b contacts the first contact portion 15c, and the first contact portion 73a moves the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the first retracted position Z1. By this, it becomes contactable with the second contact portion 15d. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only when it can contact the second contact part 15d.

2) When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the second contact portion 73b may come into contact with the second contact part 15d in the following case. The second contact portion 73b may only come into contact with the second contact portion 15d when the first contact portion 73a is adjacent to the second contact portion 15d to retract the movable member 15 from the protruding position Y to the second retracted position Z2 retracted from the first retracted position Z1. The second contact portion 73b may pass through the second contact portion 15d only when it can contact the second contact portion 15d.

3) The first contact portion 73a and the second contact portion 73b are provided with corresponding flat surfaces 73a1 and 73b1 that are inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the insertion direction G1 (while the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus) and in the direction F retracting the movable member 15.

The system design for preventing erroneous insertion is summarized as follows.

A system is provided for preventing erroneous insertion for the cartridge B, with the ability to disconnect the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the main assembly An to form an image on the recording material P. The main assembly An of the image forming apparatus comprises a guide member (12L) for guiding the installation and removal of the cartridge B, a guide member including a first contact portion 73a, a second contact portion 73b, and an adjustment surface 12Lb1. The cartridge B is provided with a movable member 15 provided with a first contact part 15c and a second contact part 15d and movable between the protruding position Y and the retracted position Z.

When the cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly An of the image forming apparatus, the adjusting surface 12La adjusts the position of the movable member 15 of the cartridge B. The first contact part 73a becomes contactable with the second contact part 15d by the second contact part 73b in contact with the first contact part 15c thus, moving the movable member 15 to the first retracted position 1 from the protruding position Y. The first contact portion 73a can pass through the second contact part 15d only if when she can contact the second part 15d for contact.

Similar results with embodiments 6 and 7 are provided according to this embodiment 8.

<Others>

1) The function, material, configuration, relative position of the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments are not limited to those described above, unless otherwise indicated.

2) The image forming apparatus is not limited to the above-described electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It may be any other imaging device using an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording process, or other known process.

3) The image forming apparatus is not limited to a device in which only one cartridge is capable of being detached. The image forming device may be a color image forming device in which several cartridges of different colors can be detachably mounted in the installation parts of the device.

4) The cartridge is not limited to the integral type process cartridge described above. It can be a detachable type technological cartridge including technological image forming means suitable for operation on an image transferring element for image transfer, or a developing cartridge including developing means for developing a latent image formed on the image transferring element using a developer . It can be a node capable of contributing to the image formation process for forming an image on the recording material, and with the possibility of extraction can be installed in the main assembly of the image forming device.

According to embodiments 6 and 8, a structure for preventing erroneous insertion can be placed next to the cartridge insertion opening of the image forming apparatus. In addition, erroneous insertion can be prevented among various designs of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus using a simple and small design. Thus, erroneous insertion can be guaranteed to be prevented by a simple design requiring a small space, and can be placed next to the cartridge insertion opening of the image forming apparatus.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed in the materials of this application, it is not limited to the details set forth, and it is intended that this application covers those modifications or changes that may fall within the scope of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

[Industrial Applicability]

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus, a cartridge, and an image forming apparatus system are provided by which the correctness of the cartridge that is inserted into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus can be determined near the insertion opening, and configurations to prevent erroneous insertion can be provided in a small space .

Claims (104)

1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, in which a cartridge including a first engaging part and a second engaging part is detachably mounted in said image forming apparatus, comprising: The main assembly of the device a movable element provided in said main assembly of the device, configured to move between a first position and a second position; a first engaging portion provided on said movable member and adapted to engage with said first engaging portion; and a second engaging portion provided on said movable member and adapted to engage with a second engaging portion, wherein by means of a first engaging portion engaging with said first engaging portion during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said movable member moves from the first position to the second position to allow said second engaging part to pass through said second part to engage in a direction installation, in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, by said second engaging part engaging with said second part for engaging in a process of removing said cartridge from said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said first engaging portion to pass through said first engaging portion in an extraction direction in which said cartridge is removed from said main assembly of the device. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage the first engaging portion, including a protrusion, and said second engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with said second engaging portion, which is a protrusion. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging portion includes a protrusion configured to engage with a first engaging portion including a groove, and said second engaging portion includes a protrusion configured to engage with said the second part for engagement, which is the groove. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said second engaging portion includes a protrusion provided with a flat surface facing upstream of the installation direction. 6. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in which a cartridge including a movable member movable between a first position and a second position is detachably mounted in said image forming apparatus, comprising: The main assembly of the device a first engaging portion configured to engage with said first engaging portion provided on said movable member; and a second engaging portion adapted to engage with a second engaging portion provided on said movable member; wherein, by said first engaging portion engaging with said first engaging portion during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through said second the engaging portion in the installation direction in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device. 7. The device according to claim 6, in which, through said second engaging part engaged with said second engaging part in the process of removing said cartridge from said main assembly of the device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said first engaging portion to pass through said first engaging portion in an extraction direction in which said cartridge is removed from said main assembly of the device. 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said first engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with a first engaging portion including a protrusion, and said second engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with the second engaging part, which is the protrusion. 9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said first engaging portion includes a protrusion configured to engage with a first engaging portion including a groove, and said second engaging portion includes a protrusion engaging with a second engaging part including a groove. 10. The device according to p. 9, in which said second part for engagement includes a protrusion provided with a flat surface facing upstream of the installation direction. 11. A detachable cartridge mounted in an image forming apparatus including a movable member provided with a first engaging part and a second engaging part, movable between a first position and a second position, said cartridge comprising: a first engaging portion configured to engage with a first engaging portion; and a second engaging portion adapted to engage with the second engaging portion; wherein, by said first engaging portion engaging with said first engaging portion during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging portion to pass through said second the engaging portion in the installation direction in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device. 12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein, by said second engaging portion engaging with said second engaging portion in a process of removing said cartridge from said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said first engaging portion to pass through the first engaging portion in an extraction direction in which said cartridge is removed from said main assembly of the device. 13. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein said first engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with said first engaging portion including a protrusion, and said second engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with the second engaging part, which is the protrusion. 14. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein said first engaging portion includes a protrusion engaged with said first engaging portion including a groove, and said second engaging portion includes an engagement protrusion with a second engaging part including a groove. 15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein said second engaging portion includes a protrusion provided with a flat surface facing upstream of the installation direction. 16. A detachable cartridge mounted in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said image forming apparatus including a first part for engagement and a second part for engagement, said cartridge comprising: a movable member configured to move between a first position and a second position; a first engaging portion provided on said movable member and adapted to engage with said first engaging portion; and a second engaging portion provided on the movable member and adapted to engage with the second engaging portion; wherein, by said first engaging part engaging with said first part for engaging during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging part to pass through said second part for engagement in the installation direction in which said cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the device. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein, by said second engaging portion engaging with said second portion for engaging in a process of removing said cartridge from said main assembly of said device, said movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said first engaging portion to pass through said first engaging portion in an extraction direction in which said cartridge is removed from said main assembly of the device. 18. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein said first engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with said engaging portion including a protrusion and said second engaging portion includes a groove configured to engage with the second engaging part, which is the protrusion. 19. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein said first engaging portion includes a protrusion configured to engage with said first engaging portion including a groove, and said second engaging portion includes an engagement protrusion with a second engaging part including a groove. 20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein said second engaging portion includes a protrusion provided with a flat surface facing upstream of the mounting direction. 21. A system of image forming devices for forming an image on a recording material, said system of image forming devices comprising: (i) a first cartridge including a first part for engagement and a second part for engagement; (ii) a first image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said first cartridge being detachably mounted to said first image forming apparatus, said first image forming apparatus including a first movable member provided in a first main assembly of said first image forming apparatus and configured to move between a first position and a second position, a first engaging portion provided on said first movable member and adapted to engage with said first engaging portion, and a second engaging portion provided on said first movable member and adapted to engage with said second engaging portion, wherein by said first engaging portion, engaged with said first part for engaging during installation of said first cartridge into said main assembly of the first device, said first movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging part to pass through said second part for engaging in an installation direction wherein said first cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the first device; (iii) a second cartridge including a third part for engagement and a fourth part for engagement; and (iv) a second image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said second cartridge being detachably mounted to said second image forming apparatus, said second image forming apparatus including a second movable member provided in a second main assembly of said second image forming apparatus and configured to move between a first position and a second position, a third engaging portion provided on said second movable member and adapted to engage with said third engaging portion, and a fourth engaging portion provided on said second movable member and adapted to engage with said fourth engaging portion, wherein, by said first engaging part engaging with said first part for engaging during installation of said second cartridge into said main assembly of the second device, said second movable member is moved from a first position of said second movable member to a second position of said second movable member, to allow said fourth engaging portion to pass through said fourth engaging portion in an installation direction in which oh, said second cartridge is installed in said main assembly of the second device, however, when an attempt is made to install said first cartridge into said main assembly of the second device, said second engaging part is in contact with said second movable element so as to prevent said first cartridge from being installed in said main assembly of the second device, and however, when an attempt is made to install said second cartridge into said main assembly of the first device, said fourth engaging portion is in contact with said first movable member in order to prevent said second cartridge from being installed in said main assembly of the first device. 22. A system of image forming devices for forming an image on a recording material, said system of image forming devices comprising: (i) a first cartridge including a movable member configured to move between a first position and a second position; (ii) a first image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said first cartridge being detachably mounted to said first image forming apparatus, said first image forming apparatus including a first engaging portion configured to engage with said first engaging portion provided on said first movable member; and a second engaging portion adapted to engage with a second engaging portion provided on said first movable member; wherein, by said first engaging part engaging with said first engaging part during installation of said first cartridge into said main assembly of said first device, said first movable member is moved from a first position to a second position to allow said second engaging part to pass through said second engaging part in a mounting direction in which said first cartridge is mounted in said main assembly of the first device ystva; (iii) a second cartridge including a second movable member configured to move between a third position and a fourth position; and (iv) a second image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said second cartridge being detachably mounted to said second image forming apparatus, said second image forming apparatus including a third engaging portion configured to engage with a third engaging portion provided on said second movable member; and a fourth engaging portion configured to engage with a fourth engaging portion provided on said second movable member; wherein, by said third engaging portion engaging with said third engaging portion during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly of the second device, said second movable member is moved from a third position to a fourth position to allow said fourth engaging portion to pass through said fourth engaging portion in an installation direction in which said second cartridge is mounted in said main assembly of a second troystva; however, when an attempt is made to install said first cartridge into said main assembly of the second device, said second engaging part is in contact with said second movable element so as to prevent said first cartridge from being installed in said main assembly of the second device, and however, when an attempt is made to install said second cartridge into said main assembly of the first device, said fourth engaging portion is in contact with said first movable member in order to prevent said second cartridge from being installed in said main assembly of the first device. 23. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in which a cartridge is detachably mounted in said image forming apparatus, wherein said image forming apparatus comprises: main assembly; a movable element movable between a protruding position in which said movable element is in an insertion path of a first contact part and a second contact part that are provided on said cartridge when said cartridge is installed in said main assembly and a retracted position in which the movable the element is pulled out of the insertion path; a first contact portion provided on said movable member for moving said movable member into a retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact part; a second contact part provided on said movable element in a downstream position from said first contact part with respect to a mounting direction of said cartridge in said main assembly, for moving said movable element into an retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact part; and a recess provided in said movable member between said first contact part and said second contact part with respect to a mounting direction, said recess being recessed beyond said first contact part and said second contact part in a moving direction of said movable member, and said recess enters the insertion path when said movable member is in a protruding position, wherein said first contact part and said second contact part are able to pass through said movable element in the installation direction without entering said second contact part into said recess during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly. 24. The device according to p. 23, in which, when an attempt is made to install the wrong cartridge in the main assembly, the contact part of the wrong cartridge is adjacent to the wall of the recess in the installation direction to prevent the incorrect cartridge from moving downstream of the installation direction. 25. The device according to p. 23, further comprising an inclined surface provided in an upstream position from said first part for contact with respect to an installation direction and inclined with respect to an installation direction, for directing said first contact part and said second contact part to said first part for contact. 26. The device according to p. 23, further comprising an inclined surface provided in a downstream position from said second part for contact with respect to the installation direction and inclined with respect to the installation direction, for directing said first contact part and said second contact part to said second part for contact when the cartridge is removed from the main assembly. 27. The device according to p. 23, in which said movable element is pressed into a protruding position by means of a pressing means. 28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the insertion path is formed by a guide member for guiding said first contact portion and said second contact portion when said cartridge is mounted or removed relative to the main assembly. 29. Detachable cartridge installed in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a movable member movable between a protruding position in which the movable element is in the insertion path of said cartridge when said cartridge is installed in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus and a retracted position retracted from the insertion path, a first contact portion provided on the movable member, a second portion for I contact provided on the movable element in the lower position from said first part for contact with respect to the installation direction of said cartridge in the main assembly, a recess provided in the movable element between the first part for contact and the second part for contact with respect to the installation direction, the recess outside the first part for contact and the second part for contact in the direction of movement of the movable element, and the recess enters the insertion path when the movable element is tsya in the extended position, said cartridge comprising: a first contact portion for moving the movable member to the retracted position by contacting the first contact portion or the second contact portion during installation of said cartridge in the main assembly; and a second, provided in a downstream position from said first contact portion with respect to the installation direction, for moving the movable element into the retracted position by contact with the first contact part or the second contact part during installation of said cartridge into the main assembly wherein said first contact part and said second contact part are able to pass through said movable element without entering said second contact part into said recess during installation of said cartridge into said main assembly. 30. The cartridge of claim 29, wherein said first contact portion moves said movable member from a protruding position to said retracted position by contacting an inclined surface that is provided upstream of the first contact portion relative to the installation direction and which is inclined relative to the installation direction . 31. The cartridge of claim 29, wherein said second contact portion moves said movable member from a protruding position to said retracted position by contacting an inclined surface that is provided upstream of the first contact portion relative to the installation direction and which is inclined relative to the installation direction . 32. The cartridge of claim 29, wherein said first contact portion moves said movable member from a protruding position to a retracted position by contacting an inclined surface that is provided downstream of the second contact portion relative to the mounting direction and which is tilted relative to the mounting direction, when said cartridge is removed from the main assembly. 33. The cartridge of claim 32, wherein said second contact portion moves said movable member from a protruding position to a retracted position by contacting an inclined surface that is provided downstream of the second contact portion relative to the mounting direction and which is tilted relative to the mounting direction, when said cartridge is removed from the main assembly. 34. The device of claim 29, wherein said first contact portion and said second contact portion are guided by a guide member provided in the main assembly when said cartridge is mounted or removed relative to the main assembly of the device. 35. A system of image forming devices for forming an image on a recording material, said system of image forming devices comprising: (i) a first cartridge; (ii) a first image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said first cartridge being detachably mounted to said first image forming apparatus, said first image forming apparatus including a first movable member movable between a first protruding position in which said first movable member is in an insertion path of a first contact portion and a second contact portion that are provided on said first cartridge when said first cartridge is installed in a first main assembly of said first device imaging, and a first retracted position in which said movable member is retracted from the insertion path, a first contact portion provided on said first movable member for moving said first movable member to a first retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact part; a second contact portion provided on said first movable member in a downstream position of said first contact portion relative to a mounting direction of said first cartridge in said first main assembly, for moving said first movable member to a first retracted position by contact with said first contact part or said second contact part, and a first recess provided in said first movable member between said first contact part and said second contact part relative to the installation direction, said first recess being recessed beyond said first contact part and said second contact part in a direction of movement of said first movable member and said first recess enters the insertion path when said first movable member is in a first protruding position, wherein said first contact part and said second contact part are able to pass through said first movable element in the installation direction without entering said second contact part into said first recess during installation of said first cartridge into said first main assembly; (iii) a second cartridge; and (iv) a second image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording material, said second cartridge being detachably mounted to said second image forming apparatus, said second image forming apparatus including a second movable member movable between a second protruding position, wherein said second movable member is in an insertion path of a third contact portion and a fourth contact portion that are provided on said second cartridge when said second cartridge is installed in the second main assembly of said second device imaging, and a second retracted position in which said second movable element is retracted from the insertion path, a third contact portion provided on said second movable member for moving said second movable member to a second retracted position by contact with said third contact portion or said fourth contact portion, a fourth contact portion provided on said second movable member in a downstream position of said third contact portion relative to a mounting direction of said second cartridge in said second main assembly, for moving said second movable member to a second retracted position by contact with said third contact part or said fourth contact part, and a second recess provided in said second movable member between said third contact part and said fourth contact part relative to the installation direction, said second recess being recessed beyond said third contact part and said fourth contact part in the direction of movement of said second movable member and said second recess enters the insertion path when said second movable member is in a second protruding position and, wherein said third contact part and said fourth contact part are able to pass through said second movable element in the installation direction without entering said fourth contact part into said second recess during installation of said second cartridge into said second main assembly; however, when an attempt is made to install said second cartridge into said main assembly of the first device, said first recess receives at least one of said third contact part and said fourth contact part to prevent said second cartridge from moving downstream of the installation direction, and however, when an attempt is made to install said first cartridge into said main assembly of a second device, said second recess is received at least one of said first contact portion and said second contact portion to prevent said first cartridge from moving downstream of the mounting direction.

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